In a story published Tuesday evening, Seattle Sounders owner Adrian Hanauer tells the Seattle Times he is "very concerned" not only with the team's 2-7-2 start and acute offensive struggles, but also with chatter that the front office hasn't tried hard enough to improve the side.
Speaking to the Times' Geoff Baker, Hanauer said the club "absolutely tried" to replace Jordan Morris as soon as the striker tore his ACL back in February in Concacaf Champions League action.
"We just could not find the right fit in that [transfer] window," Hanauer told the Times. "We also intended to wait until July because we thought we had the flexibility to then decide the exact type of player we wanted in the July window.
“And so, in hindsight it’s easy to say ‘If we had only had another goalscorer – or another No. 9. But if the plan had worked according to plan, we would be looking for a different type of player today than we are.’’
Hanauer also says he regrets GM Garth Lagerwey's comments to MLSsoccer.com's Andrew Wiebe on ExtraTime Live, when Lagerwey said the Sounders may not continue to be among the league's top spenders.
Ultimately, the club quickly tried to assure supporters it remained committed to putting a championship side on the field and suggested a Designated Player signing would be coming this summer. Hanauer admits there's only one way to truly drive that message home.
“I want our fans believing in us organizationally,’’ Hanauer tells the Times. “But really, the proof is in the pudding. Our fans will believe in us by us continuing to put a championship team on the field. And to date this year, we have not. And so, we need to fix that.’’
Read the whole interview at SeattleTimes.com.
