Clint Dempsey says he is still slowly adjusting to life with the Seattle Sounders following his MLS move from England in August.
The 30-year old USA international has dealt with enormous expectations since returning to America and although he has only scored one goal since arriving in Seattle, he feels like he is still getting used to being back in the domestic competition of his homeland.
"It was going to be a challenge, I knew, coming back to the States, playing in this league and getting used to it again," said the former Fulham and Tottenham star.
"And coming into a new team, everybody was in midseason already or past that. Me, I was pretty much preseason with Tottenham at the time, so I knew it was going to be a challenge.
"Injuries didn't help, but I'm happy to be here and looking forward to this game coming up and hopefully keep this season going, because I don't want it to end."
The game Dempsey speaks of is the Western Conference semi-final second leg against the Portland Timbers which sees the Sounders trailing 2-1 following the first leg on the weekend.
Dempsey insists that Seattle will be ready to pull back the deficit on Thursday at CenturyLink Field: "You want to be in playoffs, and that's what's going to happen in any playoff game.
"It's going to be difficult. It's not going to be easy. It's two legs - home and away - and you have to make sure you do a good job in both games, either not conceding too many and not getting too confident thinking you've got this wrapped up.
"All it takes is one goal and you're back in the game. We have to make sure that we come out and get that first goal."
