Paraguay international Nelson Valdez (pictured) scored one goal in his only 2015/16 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League appearance for the Seattle Sounders. (Photo: Jane Gershovich)  

SEATTLE, Washington – The sting of elimination from the MLS Cup playoffs is still fresh for Seattle Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid, but that will soon turn to preparation with a Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal showdown against Club America slightly more than three months away. 

“I think the team did well considering all the obstacles and difficulties we’ve had this season with all the injuries, people being out,” Schmid said after Seattle fell short in the two-legged Western Conference Semifinal two-legged series. “At the end of the day, I think they showed a lot of character, a lot of desire.” 

FC Dallas advanced to the conference final on penalties after the sides finished level on aggregate at 3-3. It also meant another year without the elusive MLS Cup for the Sounders, the league’s best-supported team with an average 2015 attendance of 44,247. 

“The (MLS) Cup is what we haven’t given them (the fans) yet,” expressed Schmid. “We’ve given them four (U.S.) Open Cups, one Supporters Shield. Our trophy case has a lot more in it than Dallas’ trophy case has in it, as an example.” 

The coming weeks and months promise to generate questions about who will return when the Sounders assemble for their 2016 preseason camp. 

On its current roster, Seattle has three designated players over 30-years-old: Clint Dempsey (32), Obafemi Martins (31) and Nelson Valdez (31). Each started on Sunday against Dallas, but the trio produced one total appearance between them in four SCCL group-stage games. 

Schmid emphasized a desire to return for an eighth season next year, though he also knows that is out of his hands. 

“Yeah, but obviously that’s not my decision, that’s ownership’s decision and they’ll decide that,” the 62-year-old finished. “I feel fine and I still feel capable of coaching. Like I’ve said, there’s nothing I want to do more and there’s nothing the guys in the room want to do more than to bring an MLS Cup back to Seattle. 

“Hopefully, one day, that will happen.”