CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – With another opportunity to learn and grow with the US national team, there was no hesitation on the part of defender DeAndre Yedlin to leave the Seattle Sounders and enter another camp with head coach Jurgen Klinsmann & Co.
The Sounders are in the midst of a heated Supporters' Shield battle with the LA Galaxy, but the 23-year-old Yedlin had no real qualms about leaving his club for international duty because of its considerable depth at right back.
“It’s a good opportunity for me to get in here,” Yedlin told MLSsoccer.com. “I’m not worried about us in Seattle, we have great depth. There are so many people who can play that right back position. You know Brad Evans is obviously there and he’s obviously excellent at that position. I’m not worried at all.”
That’ll leave Yedlin with a clear conscience as he and his US brethren take on Ecuador in a friendly in East Hartford on Friday night (7 pm; ESPN, UNiMas), while his Sounders teammates will be across the country looking to take down the second leg of a "quadruple" as they attempt to capture the Cascadia Cup with a win or a tie over Vancouver (10 pm ET; NBCSN/NBCSports.com).
“That’s more one for the fans,” said Yedlin of winning the Cascadia Cup. “They enjoy that one the most. If we can get that one for the fans that would be excellent.”
If the Cascadia Cup is returned to Seattle for the first time since 2011, it will set the Sounders up with a shot at picking up four different titles. They already claimed the US Open Cup, and are hoping to lift the Cascadia Cup before trying to win the Supporters' Shield and MLS Cup.
- Get more Seattle Sounders news at SoundersFC.com
Seattle are currently locked up with the Galaxy at 60 points apiece, as the two club’s careen towards two head-to-head battles to close out the regular season. For now, however, Yedlin is enjoying another international camp alongside Galaxy player Omar Gonzalez.
There have not been any wagers or trash talk between the two, but it might not stay that way for much longer.
“Not yet, but I’m sure something will come up though," said Yedlin with a chuckle.
