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MLS opener just start of Sounders’ goals for 2015

Owner Joe Roth holds up the Supporters Shield, a trophy that qualified Sounders FC for CONCACAF Champions League. (Associated Press)
Don Ruiz Tacoma News Tribune
Owner Joe Roth holds up the Supporters Shield, a trophy that qualified Sounders FC for CONCACAF Champions League. (Associated Press)

SEATTLE – Seattle Sounders FC opens its seventh Major League Soccer season at home today against the New England Revolution.

Thirty-three regular-season games will follow. And so will other competitions. Seattle will get a chance to defend its U.S. Open Cup. And summer will bring entry into group play of 2015-16 CONCACAF Champions League, which the club says it is serious about winning.

These Sounders project as a deep and veteran team; and they might have to be, as coach Sigi Schmid seems reluctant to sacrifice success in any one competition to increase the chances of success in another.

“If we enter something, we’re in it to try to win it,” Schmid said. “But within that, we also have to be intelligent about our decisions and how we allocate our resources. Take for example Champions League: We definitely want to advance out of our group. Depending upon the schedule of games and how we’re playing, do we – I don’t want to say ‘sacrifice’ – but do we make an adjustment to help ensure that we advance in Champions League and field a slightly different team (that) weekend in league? That’s something that we might have to do because … winning the Supporters’ Shield is great, but at the end of the day that doesn’t guarantee you MLS Cup.”

The Sounders know that from experience, having taken the 2014 Supporters’ Shield before being eliminated from the playoffs in the Western Conference finals.

“We have a good locker room,” forward Clint Dempsey said. “It’s just about being sharp and making sure we’re ready for the first game. It’s going to be a long season (and we have to) manage it in the right way and make sure we start well.”

The Sounders’ quality will be tested quickly, as opening opponent New England heads into the season as the betting favorite in the Eastern Conference.

Seattle opens the season close to full strength, with only All-Star midfielder Osvaldo Alonso out with a groin injury. New England also will be without a midfield star, Jermaine Jones (sports hernia).

Over their first six seasons, the Sounders have acquired four U.S. Open Cups and one Supporters’ Shield. Absent is an MLS Cup or international trophy.

“I wouldn’t necessarily trade all the other cups for an MLS Cup, because that’s a lot of hardware,” captain Brad Evans said. “But I’d probably switch out one of those for an MLS Cup. That’s something that we’re all working to strive for. If we can pick up other hardware along the way, that’s just an added plus.”