Heron Talk presented by Gallagher
When Inter Miami takes on the Seattle Sounders this weekend, it’ll offer a special opportunity for DeAndre Yedlin to return to the place where his career began. The right back will have the chance to take on his former club, where he became Seattle’s first-ever Homegrown Player.
“Obviously the return to Seattle is going to be amazing. I have most of my family there, my daughter is going to be able to be in Seattle for the first time, so that will be nice. Just to be able to be back in the stadium, where I kind of grew up will be a good feeling,” said Yedlin.
Though the moment will be a special one for Yedlin, the defender is fully focused on the task of taking down his former team. The former Sounder shared what he knows about Inter Miami’s opponents and what will be key in getting a result against them.
“It’s a team full of workers, and then you add the talent that they have and it makes them a very, very good team. That’s why they’re challenging for titles every year, so it will be a difficult game, especially playing away.
“I think the important thing is we have to stay compact, we have to try and keep them wide. We know it’s not easy to do. Especially with [Nicolás] Loderio and the creative guys in the middle, we have to get pressure on the ball and not allow them to pick their heads up. Those will be the main things, and then on the flip side of it we have weapons going forward, so if we can get the ball to those guys on counter-attacks and things like that, it will push them back a little bit and have to be a little more honest defensively…It will be a real challenge and I am looking forward to it.”
Yedlin did, however, also take a moment to reflect on what he hopes for from the special return to Seattle.
“I hope it's a warm welcome. I think it will be, but we’ll see,” said Yedlin. “I’m going to go to my grandma’s house and have some food there, I’m looking forward to that.”
Tune in to FS1 or FOX Deportes this Saturday, April 16 at 10 p.m. ET to see Yedlin and Inter Miami take on Seattle Sounders FC at Lumen Field.
