It Would have Been My Greatest Save – If I’d Touched it!

Keller Confesses His Great Save was all Woodwork

April 8

It was a very relaxed Sounders training camp at Starfire Sports Complex, Tukwila, this morning. The road trip to Toronto appears to have had an even more cohesive effect on team spirit than three straight wins and from the touchline, the players seemed to be having fun, working hard.

The good news is that all three of the injured list are now taking part in team exercises, surely a considerable morale booster compared to training alone or with other injured players.

Peter Vagenas, Taylor Graham who finally discarded his surgical boot on March 31st seemed to be moving fairly freely, and Chris Eylander all took part in a ‘Four Way Game’, an entertaining scenario played on a square pitch with four goals. Joining Eylander, Ben Dragavon and Kasey Keller was Seattle University’s Emerson DeOliveira. (Read a Seattle Soccer Examiner piece on him here).

In the four way game, a blue bibbed side was opposed by an orange bibbed side, with one lone player, Peter Vagenas, wearing green. From what we could see Vagenas was allowed to pass to either side, but not be tackled, and the green bib was to warn any potential tacklers that his recuperation hadn’t reached the stage of enduring heavy tackles yet. Nonetheless, Vagenas’ joy at finally playing was evident. Although Taylor Graham is not setting any timetables, the lack of a green bib for him must be encouraging.

Less good news was the huge packaging around Freddie Ljungberg’s swollen knee. Asked about his availability, Sigi Schmid said, “Should be. We have to see how he feels tomorrow. Today was the day to push. Yesterday he didn’t push in training and we just went easy on it. So today he pushed. Now we have to see how it reacts, if it swells up or not. And we’ll make those decisions tomorrow how we’re going to restructure it.”

After training, we grabbed a word with Kasey Keller and asked him, among other things, whether he thought that miracle save against Toronto that had the Fox commentators raving was as good as they thought it was.

“We’ve done things to keep the shot count down”

PA: Have you been less active than you thought?

KK: Its hard to tell, You never really know how it’s all going to shake up. I’m very happy with the way we’ve organised and stopped a lot of goal scoring chances. Sometimes that’s underestimated a little bit. You’re making double and triple saves because you don’t read the game right, and have to clean something up. We’ve done things to keep the shot count down. That isn’t necessarily down to non goalkeeping stuff.

PA: Was that save in the second half against Toronto your best save as a Sounder?

KK: It would be if I’d actually touched the ball. I was a little bit surprised that he actually gave a corner. But oh well, if I get credit for the save, fair enough.

PA: What has been?

KK: I haven’t had one yet. I’m just happy with keeping stuff clean, and more happy with having a game where I clean stuff up around the top of box, and stop a lot of chances from happening rather than making a lot of saves.

PA: Has your ability to communicate with Jhon Kennedy Hurtado in Spanish helped you marshal your defence?

KK: I hope so and I think so. Definitely doesn’t hurt and I’m getting more used to switching between English and Spanish during the game, but Jhon’s learning English well and he’s starting to react more too when I talk to him in English. Communication between everybody in the back has been solid, and I’m sure it will continue.

Sounders next game against Kansas City is a sell out on Saturday at 7.30pm.

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