SCHMID CONFIRMS SEATTLE POSITIONS

Seattle Sounders manager Sigi Schmid has confirmed that Leo Gonzalez remains as the club’s number one left-back after the defender recently returned to first-team action following a surgery during the off-season. Gonzalez underwent groin surgery during this period, which prevented him from being part of the season opener against Sporting Kansas City. Seattle Sounders managed a 1-0 win from the match, which helped them make a good start. Dylan Remick was used in place of Gonzalez and he did not harm his chances by making too many mistakes.

However, Schmid says that he has spoken with Remick about his place within the team. Remick is understood to have accepted that Gonzalez remains as the main left back for the club. The 20-year-old, who was voted as the club’s defensive player of the year last season, managed to make it through the 90 minutes against University of Washington in an exhibition match on Sunday. Schmid says that the return of the youngster is good news, but he says that Gonzalez still has to go a little further in order to regain his full level.

Gonzalez, meanwhile, was in full praise of the attitude shown by Remick during the time he has been filling in the gaps. He says that Remick has been extremely professional when called upon.

“It’s still Leo’s job and I’ve told Remick that. He’s our returning starting fullback and it was an injury that had him out. Sometimes when you come off the injury that Leo is coming off, you get to 90-95 percent but it’s that last 5-10 percent, that little bit of burst, little bit of explosion. Leo has always been one of our best defenders going against fast players. People always think they’re faster than Leo, but he always finds a way to find that gear where he’s able to stay with that guy,” said Schmid.