KANSAS CITY, Mo. – For a club in Sporting Kansas City's position – chasing both the Eastern Conference lead and a position in next year's CONCACAF Champions League knockout stage – every match from here on out is pressure-laden.
That's fine by goalkeeper Eric Kronberg, as he gets ready for Thursday's group-stage CCL match against Costa Rican powerhouse Deportivo Saprissa (8 pm ET; Fox Sports 1) – his first action in any competition since late June.
“CCL is obviously something we take very seriously, with this team,” Kronberg told MLSsoccer.com on Tuesday. “I definitely feel like I have some good experience with that, both last year and this year. I'm really looking forward to rejoining the team and doing all I can to help us win some games in CCL.”
Kronberg was 3-1-2 in CCL action in the 2013-14 edition of the regional competition, with four shutouts in qualifying and knockout play. The decision to start him in Thursday's home match, though, was more about getting him some competitive minutes before Sporting – who are two points behind East-leading D.C. United with five matches to play – return to league play on Sept. 26 at home against New England.
“He needs to get back in a rhythm of playing games,” manager Peter Vermes said Tuesday during the club's weekly news conference. “But he's looked pretty good in training, and if all goes well heading into Thursday then he would jump in.”
Kronberg has not played since breaking the fourth metatarsal in his left hand in a training-ground accident in early July, when he dove to stop a ball and hit his hand on the wheel of a portable goal. Vermes isn't worried about a falloff in his performance, though.
“He worked hard in the time he was off,” Vermes said. “He didn't let himself get out of shape or anything. He did everything except he couldn't do much with his hand. So really, it's about his timing, and his timing seems to be pretty good thus far.”
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Vermes' announcement comes with Andy Gruenebaum – who made nine league starts in Kronberg's absence but also missed three MLS matches and one CCL start with a shoulder injury – fresh off his first league shutout of the year after last Friday's 4-0 rout of hapless Chivas USA.
“I think we all want to play,” Gruenebaum said. “I think everyone's training hard. [Jon] Kempin's played well. I feel like I've played well, and Krony's really played well as well. All you can do is control what you can control, and I just want to win. If I never play another minute and we win the championship, I'll be OK with that – but it would be nice to be a part of that as well.”
Steve Brisendine covers Sporting Kansas City for MLSsoccer.com.
