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Sacha Kljestan previews the Western Conference final
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One of the breakout stars of MLS Season Pass is former MLS star Sacha Kljestan. As one of the lead studio analysts, he’s proven himself to be clever, entertaining and well researched. We are thrilled to have him join the podcast and help us preview the Western Conference final. Kljestan knows the Galaxy particularly well, both having played there and having a brother who still works in their front office.
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Transcript
Sponsorship by Fullpool Wines
00:00:02
Speaker
This episode of Nos Arietes is sponsored by Fullpool Wines, a Seattle-based wine retailer and proud sponsor of Nos Arietes since 2011. Fullpool was founded in 2009, is based in Seattle, and is owned and operated by longtime Sounder supporters. They offer the best boutique wines of the world to members of their mailing list, with special focus on their home, Pacific Northwest.
00:00:25
Speaker
Hi, I'm Will Bruin, and I was just recognized as a Seattle Sounder's legend. now i get to do voice reads for the sounder at heart podcast network but
00:00:40
Speaker
about sell <unk> it
00:01:21
Speaker
we all got of sudden go
00:01:30
Speaker
We're seeing some of the hardwood commentary that we didn't take lo seriously.
00:01:41
Speaker
Welcome back to another episode of NOS Adietes. Joining me today on the podcast is someone I'm really excited to have on. First time we've had him on.
Introduction of Sasha Kleschen
00:01:51
Speaker
ah Sasha Kleschen, you probably know him from Apple TV's MLS studio, or you might know him from his 13 seasons playing in MLS. He had 44 goals, 99 assists. He played for Chivas USA, the New York Red Bulls, Orlando City, and LA Galaxy.
00:02:06
Speaker
But i've I've really enjoyed especially watching him make the transition into the studio and becoming one of the the really entertaining and insightful voices covering this league. So welcome to the show, Shasha, and thank you for doing this. I know you're on vacation and I don't take it lightly that you're making time.
00:02:25
Speaker
No, I appreciate it any time. Yeah, surprising. This is my first appearance on the podcast. I've been making my rounds over the past couple of years, ah but excited to talk to founders in LA Galaxy. Yeah. Well, anytime you want to get back on, we're we're happy to have you. Thanks, man.
00:02:44
Speaker
But ah yeah, so anyway, ah you know, you will start with this.
Discussion on Playoff Teams
00:02:48
Speaker
You played for three of the teams that are still alive in the playoffs. So I assume that means that you're going to be rooting for the Sounders just because of fairness, right?
00:02:56
Speaker
but Yeah, exactly. Listen, I don't have a dog in the fight in any of these ones. I think all are really good stories when you look at the four clubs that are left. ah Seattle, getting you know, possible to get back to their first final in a few years. Obviously, Galaxy, it's been 10 years since they've been to an MLS Cup and they've obviously been the most successful team in MLS history.
00:03:19
Speaker
And then you got the two teams in the East. Orlando obviously never been to an MLS Cup. Red Bull, one of the few originals left that have not won an MLS Cup, so. And then I feel like I'm like the good luck Chuck. You know, as soon as I leave your club a few years later, you're in the final four so.
00:03:36
Speaker
Yeah, no, it's going to be an exciting weekend. and Yeah. So you are you are currently or you are at heart. You've you've you're a so southern California guy. You you came up through the the youth ranks there. You played there at two different times. ah You live there now. Who in your mind, who's currently winning the battle for hearts and minds between the galaxy and LFC?
LA Galaxy's Revival and Gameplay
00:03:57
Speaker
It at least seems like the mood has started to change a little bit this year.
00:04:02
Speaker
Well, I think what we see from the LA Galaxy this year is just that everybody's excited about the club again and that the fans have something to believe in as they should. they They've been the most entertaining team in the league this year. So when you show up for that stadium, I think you, one, you're entertained, two, you get to see beautiful attacking soccer, and three, they're winning, which is the most important thing. So they're ticking all the boxes right now.
00:04:29
Speaker
However, LAFC in the past seven years since they've arrived in MLF, they have been the most successful team over the past seven years. That's for sure. And that's on and off the field. ah They've done a very good job of branding. A lot of times around Southern California, you see people just wearing that black and gold LAFC hat, which has become ah a bit of a style icon thing in Los Angeles. So it's been a great battle now this year to see the LA Galaxy kind of back where they belong in the upper echelons of Major League Soccer.
00:04:59
Speaker
Yeah, I was down there last weekend for the game. And I was blown away, frankly, at especially once you get to the stadium. I mean, everybody is wearing black and gold. It's not, you know, yeah you go to a lot of games. I mean, even you go to Sounders games, you obviously you see a fair amount of rave green, but it's not like everybody is wearing it.
00:05:18
Speaker
almost everyone walking into that stadium was wearing black and gold and just demographically, it is so diverse. It looks exactly like how you imagine an MLS game should look. You have these supporters, loud supporters in one end and you have, ah you just have a variety of different kinds of people at the game. um I thought they did a really good job of like, I took a walk around the, the concourse. They did a really good job of activating it.
Galaxy Fans and Historical Success
00:05:45
Speaker
There's, you know, concessions and, and uh pro shops everywhere like basically every 20 feet i i haven't been able to get out to dignity health sports park uh ever i was hoping to get down there this weekend it does not look like that's going to happen as you may have heard this is a very busy travel weekend
00:06:04
Speaker
we yeah ah yeah So we ended up being a little out of my budget, I think, to get down there. Also, obviously I have stuff to do otherwise. But anyway, what is the what is the atmosphere like at at Galaxy Games? it's these you know I saw the Minnesota game on TV and it seemed like the it is as boisterous as ever.
00:06:25
Speaker
Yeah, listen, I think the Galaxy fans feel that they're back, which I think they are. If you just look at their home record this year, right? I think they played now 18 games or 19 games in Major League Soccer. They've got three draws and the rest of them are wins. You know, their one home loss, quote unquote, this year was the game at the Rose Bowl. so When you show up to that stadium, it is loud again. It is packed. you know I think a lot of the fans are trying to wear white to create this white out event in there that that I think looks really cool. They're loud. They're excited. They're behind their team. And like I mentioned earlier, they play beautiful attacking soccer. So that's always fun to cheer for.
00:07:03
Speaker
Uh, and you have to give some credit, uh, not some a lot of credit to the fans because they were the ones that changed things around in this club. You know what it was about a year and a half, two years ago when they walked out and they demanded changes from the club. And you had a couple of changes in the front office.
00:07:19
Speaker
And then they went out and they spent $20 million dollars on two very good wingers this offseason who have added a clear new dynamic to this team. So it just seems like there's a ton of excitement around the galaxy. The stadium is a place that it seemed like it was 10 years ago in the days of Landa Donovan and and David Beckham and Robbie Keene. When most teams stepped into that stadium, they were hoping for a draw, but knowing they were probably going to lose. And so that's what it seems like it is again right now for the galaxy.
00:07:47
Speaker
And how, I don't know, how would you articulate as someone who was there during sort of the, the end of the previous era or towards the end of the previous era, how different is the mood around the team right now? And it is as simple as this change in leadership in the front office.
00:08:02
Speaker
Well, I think it's making it even more simpler than that is that winning, winning cures a lot of things and winning makes everybody happy. So that's kind of the first thing, but then you have to backtrack and just say, yeah, like, uh, listen, Wilkootz has done a good job, I think of just creating a little bit more structure in that, in that, uh, club. And I know, I know it very well because my brother Gordon, uh, works right under Wilkootz and, you know, helps manage the salary cap and, and, uh, and things like that. So.
00:08:32
Speaker
I know what's going on in that club. I've been around it. It did not have a family feel before. I'm not sure it has the total family feel now, but it's in a much better place than it was a few years ago. Just I think with better lines of communication between the club and the fans and the club and the players, and then you can see it on the field. Obviously the players are happy. They enjoy what they're doing right now and the club just seems like it's in a much better place.
00:08:59
Speaker
So this team is like you said, it's a ton of fun to watch. They've already scored 15 goals in the first five games. I guess there are two goals shy of time. first Three games. First three games. Three. Yeah. They've scored at least four in every game, right?
00:09:17
Speaker
Yes, they've they've scored four, five and six and the MLS playoff record for Golden a postseason at 17, which was set by Toronto. So ah they've done it in three games. Listen, their attack has been amazing. Gabrielle Peck and Ricky Cooch are the two players that.
00:09:33
Speaker
that get the most plaudits, but when you have Dejan Jovalic, who's a killer in the box, and Joseph Pencil, who's got great movement off the ball, and now you add in Marco Royce when you're playing against a team that's sitting in a low block. ah They've been pretty fun to watch and and pretty entertaining.
00:09:48
Speaker
Well, let's get into that a little bit. Uh, what is, you know, Ricky pooj is sort of the player who ah it feels like he's, he's getting a lot of the credit for this change, but he also was, you know, he was here last year when they weren't quite, or the last couple of years when they weren't quite as dynamic. Is it as simple as adding, spending $20 million dollars on wingers and, and sort of the the collective just raising, or is there something that they're doing tactically that is really different?
Galaxy's Tactics and Key Players
00:10:15
Speaker
No, I don't think tactically things have changed. I played under Greg Vani and it looked the same to me. It's just when he sets up his team and you're setting up in a 4-3-3 and you're in ball possession and you're trying to get into the half spaces, wingers are so important. You have to have wingers in that system who either run behind and make it run and can finish off plays or Four wingers that can dribble past players, right? And so when we look back on the years when I was there, we didn't have those wingers. Now you spend you know about 20 million on Gabrielle Peck, who's the newcomer of the year, one of the best wingers in the league, Joseph St. Phil, obviously you know a 10 goal, 10 assist type guy. That creates a world of difference because before, I think last season, teams were able to just hone in on on Ricky Pooch and try to take him out of the game.
00:11:03
Speaker
And there wasn't space for him to operate because no players were running in behind. There was no threat in behind. ah There was no threat from the wingers. And so now you add in these wingers. And because they're so good, they they allow Ricky Cooch more space to operate. And then listen, in a playoff game against Minnesota, he's getting 161 touches. That's absurd. He's able to just control and dictate the entire game. And he's been one of the best in the league this year.
00:11:29
Speaker
Yeah, it's, it's unreal. I think he, I saw somewhere today that he had 144 passes, which is, yeah has to be up there with like an MLS record. I don't know. It's hard for me to, like, you don't hear about a hundred pass games that often, let alone, you know, 44% more than he's getting, he's getting minimum a hundred touches every single game because he just has the energy to buzz about and get on the ball. And he's brave and he's fearless. He's really a special player to watch.
00:11:55
Speaker
and On, but on the other side, they do have some holes defensively, you know, against Minnesota. They, they gave up two goals. They, you know, they, they did sometimes they were, they were allowing chances, I guess is is a way of putting it. yeah and That's been a, that's in it's sort of been a thing. Maybe not so much in the playoffs, but during the year, where, where can they be exploited? What are their weaknesses that if you're game planning against them that you're looking to, to, you know, exploit?
00:12:25
Speaker
Well, I think Seattle specifically, ah you're looking for turnovers in the midfield. You're looking for when, when Ricky Pooch drops the, basically when the galaxy is in possession and they start to spread themselves a bit. If you can turn them over in the midfield and it's one or two passes, then you have a quick counter attack going. That's, that's number one, ah which is what Seattle tried to do against LA FC and they did it well. They stifled them and and they were able to few times to try to get on the break.
00:12:50
Speaker
And then the second one is set pieces. If I'm Seattle, I'm looking at that pieces corner fix as an opportunity to score every single time. John McCarthy, the goalkeeper, he's had a pretty good season, but he's not spectacular, and so I think those are the two ways when galaxy is in possession. ah Turnover first pass forward. Can you start breaking lines and start going to goal? That's how Minnesota scored their first goal was, you know, picking a ball off of Ricky pooch 35 yards from his own goal and and two passes forward right back to Yeboah and he finishes it.
00:13:19
Speaker
And then set pieces, I think the galaxy got better at set piece defending as the season went on at the beginning of the season. It was a really difficult spot for them, but they got better, but it's still a part where I think Seattle can exploit with those big center backs coming in the lock. Thank you for listening to the Sound Rit Hart podcast network, which now includes no sunny at this lobbing scorchers and the cooler yield. We've been independent since August of 2023.
00:13:42
Speaker
but need your support to make sure it continues. Although this podcast is free, it's only made possible by your continued support. Memberships start as low as $25 a year, which not only helps make podcasts like this one happen, but also gets you access to everything we produce.
00:13:58
Speaker
If you're able to support us at higher levels, starting at $75 a year, you gain access to a host of other perks, most notably entry into our Members Only Discord, where the smartest, funniest, and most engaged commenters share their thoughts and ideas. To find out more, just visit centeratheart.com and click the subscribe button in the top right corner. Thanks for listening.
00:14:22
Speaker
Yeah, the centers scored two goals off set pieces in the league's cup meeting. They they won that game 3-1. In fact, I think you can argue the Sounders outplayed the Galaxy in all three of their meetings this year. You know, the first one admit, but they all had sort of caveats attached to them. The first one, the Galaxy, I think, and I think the Galaxy were missing a couple of players in at least a couple of those games.
00:14:43
Speaker
But, you know, the, the first one was played in a pretty torrential downpour. yeah Galaxy got an early goal and then sort of held on from there. Uh, the second one was zero, zero at Loom and field. Uh, but it was pretty much, it was, it was a pretty sounders heavy, uh, chance wise in that game. And then of course there was this through one league's cup game. Is there much though to take away from those games or is there much even to take away from, you know, Greg Vanny is just 10, I think it's 10 or four.
00:15:10
Speaker
10 and three against Brian Schmetzer. I mean, are these things that we should be looking at, like historic the historic records, even going, you know, from a few months ago? You know, not really. I think at this point in the season, both teams are at different places than they were back in August when they played in the league's cup.
00:15:29
Speaker
Uh, I think Seattle was really rounding into form then that kind of started their good form in the second half of the season. Uh, but Seattle, I've always said as a team that's built for the playoff because they don't make mistakes. They don't usually shoot themselves in the foot and they're, they're, they're so solid defensively, which is just always a recipe for success.
00:15:49
Speaker
in the postseason so you've got you know what it's probably what the best defense in the league uh against the best attack in the league at this point so um what's going to bend what's going to break is going to be the question but i don't think you need to look back on those games that you know at the league's cup one i mean Seattle was up 2-0 within seven minutes right on race that pieces ah Yeah, like you would said that the first one Gabriel Peck scores in like the fourth or fifth minute of that game. So early, early gold always change things. That's for sure. I expect this one to be a little bit more cagey.
00:16:25
Speaker
And so, you know, Greg Vani has played Brian Schmetzer more than any other coach during his his MLS career, or he has faced him more times than anyone else during his coaching career. That includes three MLS Cup meetings. And Brian Schmetzer has actually gotten gotten the best of them for the most part. yeah is you played You obviously played for Greg Vanney. Does he approach the Sounders or facing Brian Schmetzer any differently than any other team? or like Is there this sort of bogey team atmosphere around it? Or is that something that doesn't really get into the locker room?
00:17:04
Speaker
I don't think that got into the locker room. ah but But Greg ah always seems to try to come up with a little tinker of a game plan, you know just depending on how the other team usually sets up tactically. So it will be interesting to see how the Galaxy come out. I don't think much changes for the Galaxy, to be honest, whether Seattle plays in a back five or a back four. But I will be interested to see how Seattle lines up tactically and just how healthy they are for this game, because I know they've got a couple of injuries.
00:17:33
Speaker
And as you know, knew who is back, do they go back to a back four or does he play in a back five again? That will be interesting to see. But I do expect Seattle to play a little bit lower and on the counter attack. But I don't think that that Greg Vani is thinking or overthinking things against Brian Schmetzer. I do think Schmetzer is a very smart coach who always kind of comes up with a good game plan, especially in the playoff and get his players to stick to that game plan. Well, let's let's get into the the sounders side of this a little bit.
00:18:03
Speaker
You know, the against Minnesota, they seem to try to sit deep and, and, you know, they had five in the back and that's sort of in how they've been playing. It didn't work out too well
Sounders' Defensive Strategy
00:18:15
Speaker
for them. Obviously, if you were Brian Schmetzer, do you, how do you go about balancing the knowledge that this is a team that is very explosive and can, you know, beat you up pretty badly if you let them, but at the same time, you you have to keep them honest. us Yeah, listen, I think it's the same game plan as when you played LAFC. But then this time you have to expect that Galaxy will have even more possession than LAFC did in that conference semi-final matchup. You don't want to give space to Peck and paint silts to run into, in my opinion, or space for them to pick up the ball and start driving at your back line with a lot of momentum. When you see how Peck scored his first goal and how he scored his second goal,
00:18:56
Speaker
ah It's just too much space, and that's where LFC looks first played. They want Denny Boonga to get the ball with time and space and ah lots of space to run into. And Seattle never gave him that, so they really limited him in that match. I think they have to have that same game plan against Gabrielle Peck and Joseph Paintil specifically.
00:19:17
Speaker
And ah offensively, you would think that the Sounders are going to look to get Jordan into space, ah either whether he's on the wing or or starting up top. From what you've seen of him this year, has he shown you as as a as a pundit that this is that he is a number nine? Or do you still think there's an open question as to his best position and and you know how how the Sounders sort of build around him?
00:19:41
Speaker
I still think the Sounders at their best, not this season. Right now he is the best number nine on the team, but the founders at their best, in my opinion, would be with Jordan Morris back on the left wing and a real good number nine up front, like Rui Diaz was years ago. I think Rui Diaz has passed his prime. And so in the moment, Jordan Morris is playing well as the nine, but he's not ruthless enough for me.
00:20:06
Speaker
to be a starting number nine weekend and week out. Now, listen, he's done his job. He's scored goals. He's put it in the back of the net. I think against l LAFC, Aaron Long had him in his pocket for 120 minutes. And on one set piece, he got his chance and he absolutely buried it. And that was a really fantastic striker's goal. So maybe he's making me eat my words, but I do think he's best when he's coming in off the left and and and having more space to run into.
00:20:33
Speaker
Well, and this is a game where the centers are potentially without, they're definitely without Paul Rothrock. They're potentially without Yaymar, Nu who even read Baker Whiting, who, who started as a left wing back last game.
Sounders' Lineup Considerations
00:20:46
Speaker
If your game planning for, if you're, if you're approaching this game. Are you tempted to bring Rui Diaz back in and move Morris out to the wing just because of all these absences? Or is there some other approach that you would like to, like, I guess it's maybe between Jau Paulo and Raul Rui Diaz as who you're going to bring into the lineup?
00:21:06
Speaker
Yeah, probably not bringing Rui Diaz in as a starting player. I think I'd keep Jordan Morris up front for now. I think Yemar is the biggest miss if he can't play. I think Nathan came in and did well against the Galaxy, but from what I remember about playing against him in the San Jose days, there's a clear drop off between Yemar and Nathan.
00:21:27
Speaker
um the biggest question marks will be back there. I think whether you bring Joe Paulo in that, you know, that just adds to the team, to the organization. I think of Obed Vargas against LAFC was fantastic. He's been one of the best young players in the league this year. You always know what you're going to get out of Christian rolled on and Alex rolled on for that matter. So I think I would try to keep the midfield solid, keep it the same way it's been. You got to get Rusenak on the ball in between the lines and you got to get Jordan Morris on the run behind that back line because that's where the galaxy can be exposed.
00:21:58
Speaker
And so in in sort of i i am if I'm projecting out what you're you're suggesting, you you wouldn't mind seeing Christian probably moved out to the right and let Obed and and JP ah man the center of the Mitchell. Yes, because I think that that makes sense for what's happening with with Seattle right now. i think Just this year running you get out of Christian Roldon and you know He's shown the propensity to score goals against the galaxy in the past especially on counter-attacks in that stadium And he just he had the engine and the motor I know he didn't score a lot this year But you know, he's he still can be really lethal in the counter-attacks just by you know, his volume of running
00:22:36
Speaker
Yeah. And I mean, I've been, I've been pretty impressed by his move to the number six. I was not, I was for a long time, someone who thought that that move did not make, that was not the best use of his, his talents, but it has worked pretty well this year when they moved him back there. But I, I am starting to think you're right about the,
00:22:56
Speaker
If you're balancing your needs in this game, moving him onto the right is probably the the best option that you have and and bringing JP in rather than Rui Diaz. But i don't know that's that's the biggest one that i that I'm curious to see what they what they end up doing there. um And then I guess on the other side, do you think, what's your projection in terms of, is Marco Roy, is this like a game that Marco Roy gets to start? Or is this something where they go to a more two-way sort of look there?
00:23:27
Speaker
Yeah, I well i think that the biggest question is whether Marco Roy starts or Mark Delgado starts. Delgado gives you more balance, a little bit more defensive structure, more running defensively. ah But I think i think Greg Vani will lean towards starting Marco Royce again, just to add that you know other number 10 slash 8 to play in between the line, especially because I think and galaxy will have more possession and that just kind of adds another number into the attack. So look i'm I'm eagerly awaiting to find out the starting lineup on Saturday night, just to see how I think both teams will line up. But my gut tells me Marco Roy starts. And so my understanding is this is going to be a little bit different of a game for you. You're going to be on the, on the sideline. I guess that's something you did last week against, uh, for the Hudson river Darby as well.
00:24:15
Speaker
Yes, I will be on the sideline, uh, you know, just doing some pregame hits, uh, with the, with the studio crew back, you know, for the, the MLS pregame show for both games. Uh, and then, you know, yeah, grabbing interviews and talking to coaches and and it's always fun being on the sideline for these games. Cause you get to see the action up close and, you know, being in the studio every weekend, you start to miss the atmosphere of a game and the crowd and all that. So I'm really looking forward to this one. Cause I think it's really going to be a fantastic game on Saturday night.
00:24:44
Speaker
So I'm going to just ask you this. is So you went, you made some predictions for this last game. You went one for four on those predictions, not trying to, but it was it was a hard one to predict. I'm not going to, I'm not trying to light you up, but what was the thing that most surprised you? I guess from last round and and what are the, you know, we have two match ups that on paper, I think, well, I don't know. Maybe they're not as, as, as lopsided as, as I'm suggesting, but what, what, what are you expecting out of this round collectively? And what was the biggest surprise you had from last round?
Playoff Predictions
00:25:14
Speaker
I think the biggest surprise was that Atlanta laid an egg. I think they had so much momentum and and listen, we have to remember they were the nine teams, so they are what they are. But I think we all got caught up in the hype, or at least I got caught up in the hype of the of how well they played against Miami. so uh i thought orlando was very good they controlled the game in its entirety atlanta never really threatened so uh it's good to see orlando win because they they were the better team for sure uh going into this round i expect two really tight games i don't expect high scoring in either of them uh if i had to give an edge i'd give an edge to the galaxy just because they've played at home so unbelievably well this season
00:26:00
Speaker
uh but in a very very tight one and then in the the eastern conference final i think the red bulls have some mojo right now but i do think orlando is the better team uh they defend better they control the game better but Red Bull scored two kind of opportunistic goals against New York City and the New York City kind of battered them with kind of chance after chance and just never really took their chances. So I do think Orlando will take their chances a little bit better and I'll pick them to win in the East also.
00:26:32
Speaker
Well, I appreciate you taking the time here, Sasha. It's been really a pleasure ah talking to you. Again, I would urge everyone to to check out the studio bits of MLS season pass if for no other reason than then shot Sasha and and Bradley Wright Phillips are have some good banter and it's and it's a good it's a good watch. So ah thanks for doing this, Sasha. It's it's really appreciated.
00:26:56
Speaker
Yeah, no problem. Yeah. Come join us, uh, MLS countdown, MLS 360.
Conclusion and MLS Coverage Reminder
00:27:00
Speaker
I mean, obviously not anymore. Uh, but next season, we have a great time in the studio. Like you said, we have great banter and and just, uh, we all enjoy watching the games together and try to bring it to life. Thanks for having me. Yeah. And hopefully we see you out in Seattle, uh, in a week or so. All right. Good luck to the founders. It's going to be a good one. Right. We'll talk to you later. Thanks. All right. This is, uh, no study at this and, uh, yeah, we'll catch you next time.
00:28:04
Speaker
on