Seattle Sounders Designated Player Nicolas Lodeiro has made an instant impact since signing last month. He has a goal and four assists in four matches, but perhaps his biggest influence has been what he's done to galvanize the club and spark its four-game unbeaten streak.
"[Lodeiro] has been a leader since day one," Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan said Tuesday in a Facebook Live video from Houston ahead of the team's match against the Dynamo on Wednesday (6 p.m. PT; JOEtv, ROOT Sports, El Rey 1360AM, 770 KTTH).
"That's all we can ask for," Roldan continued. "He provides a lot of energy and whenever things aren't going right for me personally on the field, or if I'm not talking enough, I'll hear it from him."
Roldan has been the beneficiary of Lodeiro's presence on the field because of the amount of attention the Uruguayan international draws.
"Having two guys like Nico and Clint [Dempsey] definitely helps me because I have a little more time and spaces because [defenses] are more worried about those guys."
Defenses will have to start taking note of Roldan, too. He has two goals and two assists - and he's drawn two penalty kicks - in the last four games and was named to his first MLS Team of the Week after his goal and assist in the Sounders' 3-1 win over the Timbers on Sunday.
