When Chivas USA travel to XBOX Pitch at CenturyLink Field, home of the Seattle Sounders FC, on Sunday, July 28, at 7:00 p.m. (PT), not only will they have to worry about facing one of Major League Soccer’s rowdiest fans, but also playing in on artificial surface.

The Sounders’ pitch surface is called FieldTurf, one of the most popular brands of artificial turf for both football and soccer clubs throughout the world. This surface includes sand and ground rubber as the base of the artificial grass, providing a flexible playing surface for both football and soccer in all types of weather.

It’s the top quality of this turf that allows Chivas USA coaching staff not to worry about the change from a natural to a synthetic field. However, the Red-and-White will need to pay attention to some difficulties in the bouncing and speed of the ball.

“Seattle’s field is very similar to natural grass,” said Chivas Strength & Conditioning Coach Armando Camacho, who has visited the Sounders’ grounds on few occasions. “It’s a different type of surface but it’s very similar. We have to pay attention to the bouncing of the ball; it goes faster, as the field is smoother and even. Despite the field difference, it’s in Seattle, where I think it’s the closest you can get to natural grass.”

The differences won’t be an excuse for the Strength & Conditioning coach, who besides fully trusting his players’ aptitudes, counts with a handful of ideas to make sure the group is ready for Sunday’s challenge.

“The players have the ability to adapt particularly fast to the circumstances of the game. We are preparing the guys so they face no issue adjusting to the surface by doing exercises that involved perception and balance with their own body in the turf fields that we have in our facilities.”

Defender Mario de Luna is one of the most experienced Goats in turf, as the centerback played a large number of games at Estadio Omnilife in Guadalajara before arriving to Chivas USA.

“Playing in turf is a bit more difficult,” explained De Luna. “However, we will be able to prepare in our facilities here at the stadium and get used to playing the type of soccer we want.

“Tomorrow we are going to train in the turf fields so we can have sense of how the ball bounce and the direction it takes in passes on the ground so when Sunday comes we don’t have any issues,” concluded the Red-and-White defender.

Purdy returns to the flock after Gold Cup play

Chivas USA defender Steven Purdy rejoined the club for his first training Thursday since returning from his stint with the Salvadoran National Team in its participation in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. La Selecta advanced out of the initial group phase with a win and a draw but were eliminated by the U.S. Men’s National Team in the Quarterfinals to cut their run short of the Finals, which is now set with the Stars-and-Stripes meeting Panama this Sunday.

In his first season with the Rojiblancos, Purdy, a native of Northern of California and Cal Berkeley product, has made three starts with the Goats, while earning two call-ups this year for his mother’s native El Salvador. Purdy recorded 90 minutes in the 2-2 tie against Trinidad & Tobago and now returns to the Red-and-White after nearly a month stay with La Selecta, and as always the center back expressed his gratitude for the experience and selection.

“It was great,” said Purdy who brought his international cap total to 17. “Whenever I’m with them I’m always proud of representing a country, a culture. We were able to play some good soccer. There are still things that we need to get going for our national team but it was a great experience and I’m looking forward to the next time.

“Just being with all my teammates and fighting for a common goal and putting all that effort in training and seeing those things come out in the games is exciting. And also making it to the Quarterfinals, being able to compete and show that we have good soccer.”

Purdy, 28, rejoins a Red-and-White squad with some new key figures on their roster, as forward Erick “Cubo” Torres and fellow defender Carlos Bocanegra joined the club in early July and have already made an impact in their debuts. Also adding to the depth chart on the back line is newly-arrived Chivas Academy product Jaime Frias who was added to the roster last week. And the fourth-year MLS defender says he is excited to add to that influx of players with the Rojiblancos, who will next battle Western Conference rival Seattle Sounders FC on the road this Sunday.

“I’m really happy to be back,” added Purdy. “I’ve been following the team and the games. It seems like things are on a really good track right now and I’m just excited to help the team whatever way I can. First and foremost I hope the team continues to do well. It was a tough month of a lot of training, but I feel good. It feels like I’m one hundred percent so I’m ready to give my all for Chivas USA now.”

The big center back will look to earn a spot in Head Coach Jose Luis Real’s 18 as the Rojiblancos travel to Seattle this Saturday ahead of their Major League Soccer Week 22 match, which will mark the sides’ second of three meetings this season.

Training Report: Back to work

After a well deserved day off, Chivas USA returned to the StubHub Center’s Field 6 to continue preparing for this Sunday’s match against the Seattle Sounders FC at XBox Pitch at Century Link Field.

Kicking off the day at 9:30 a.m., Head Coach Jose Luis Real began the day with a brief chat with the group to set out the plans and objectives for the day’s training session. Armando Camacho, Chivas USA’s Strength and Conditioning Coach, led the group in a light jog around the field. Afterwards, the group, while working in pairs, focused on improving in short passes.

With the game against Seattle in mind, Güero Real laid out the tactical plan for the match, working with a few game plan options in an inter-squad scrimmage using only three-fourths of the field. For the first time, Alberto Velazquez, James Alewine, and Michael Abalos, members of Chivas USA’s U23 Team, joined the First Team training session, receiving orders and suggestions from Coach Real. To conclude the day, the Goats worked on set pieces.