Coach guarantees Sounders win

TUKWILA – Sounders coach Sigi Schmid has guaranteed a win in today’s 1 p.m. home game against the New England Revolution.

No, really.

Schmid initially said as much in a radio interview Thursday on KJR-AM, though it was hard to tell how serious he was when he commented, with a laugh: “I’d better guarantee it or else I don’t know if ownership is going to keep me.”

The coach was pressed again at the end of the segment to repeat the guarantee, but he explained after Friday’s practice that he was not “pulled into it.”

“It’s my belief,” Schmid said. “I have a strong belief in our team.”

And where does that belief come from after a franchise-worst 0-3-1 start and a roster riddled with injuries?

“We want to get healthy bodies on the field, guys who can give the energy and are going to run their hearts out for Seattle,” Schmid said.

“And when they go out there and play with that energy and that commitment and that dedication, I feel confident they’re going to win the game. So my prediction of a win was based upon that confidence.”

Things are so bad that Seattle, no matter today’s result, is still assured the worst five-game start in team history.