Sounders take on CF Montréal tomorrow

Well, we're getting closer to the playoffs as the Sounders take the pitch tomorrow against CF Montreal at Lumen Field. The Ray Green fell to FC Dallas 1-0 on Wednesday, snapping an impressive nine-match unbeaten streak in MLS play. And this morning, MLS analyst Sasha Kleschen joining us live. Sasha, good morning to you. Good morning. How's it going? Thanks for having me. Doing well. Thanks so much for joining us. Now, that loss to Dallas, that was a tough one where the Sounders heavily outshot Dallas with 17 shots. That one slipped away. What are you seeing out of the Sounders right now? Because they seem to be peaking at the right time. Sounders are finding their form. And like you said, at the right moment, we're getting close to the end of the season, close to the playoffs. Everybody's battling for playoff position. The Sounders, most importantly, have gotten healthy, right? They've gotten Christian Roldan back, who's probably their most important player. You get Jackson Reagan back, Alex Roldan. Everybody that has been out for little moments is now back and healthy. And that's important for Brian Schmetzer and his squad. so what do you think has been the biggest factor in the Sounders turnaround this season because it didn't look good about a month and a half ago no it's the health it's the health of the team anybody any team in Major League Soccer that deals with the amount of injuries that the Sounders dealt with in the middle part of the season are going to struggle because rosters just aren't that deep in Major League Soccer and so having all your best players back and healthy is key for this team listen they still don't have everybody Pedro de la Vega is still one of their most important and best players and he's been out for ages but the group that this team has right now they're solid new striker and Jordan Morris getting goals they're a team that we've seen over the past is an experienced team that nobody in the Western Conference wants to face them in the playoffs exactly now the Sounders sitting in seventh place in the playoff standings right now Montreal ranking dead last in goal differential in the MLS it looks like a great get right spot for the Seattle attack but the Sounders do have some tired legs with three matches this week and they got to keep up with Montreal striker Prince Owusu who is dangerous so what are you expecting in this one this has the makings of a trap game where you're playing against the worst team in the league a team that just played at home against Atlanta and lost three nil they were awful it almost looked like they gave up so they'll have a point to prove coming out because their their coach of Montreal even challenged them in the media after the game saying that some of my players gave up and that's unacceptable so he will be challenging them hard this week to come out with a big performance on the weekend so it's a trap game you want to come into this game with the right mentality if you're the Seattle Sounders make sure that it's one or two nothing by halftime put this team to bed and you got to make sure you take three points that's a must in this game and after the Sounders latest surge their playoff fate is secure now excitement growing around town so how far do you think the Sounders can actually go in the postseason When I look at the top of the Western Conference, look, upsets are always possible in the MLS playoffs Anything is possible. We've seen crazier things. You just have to get into the playoffs playing your best football, which the Sounders are doing. But when I look at the top of the West, St. Louis Vancouver Whitecaps, those are very good teams. LAFC is still very dangerous despite their losing streak and they fired their coach recently. I think Sounders could make the final four Well, I hope you're right. And like you you say anything can happen Sasha, question always good to have you thanks so much for joining us thank you all right and that's coming up tomorrow Sounders and CF Montreal 7 30 at Lumen Field and Sounders looking to start another winning streak hopefully hopefully