Struggling for form and bereft of their captain as well as two other hamstrung contributors, D.C. United are nonetheless hoping that the commencement of the inaugural SuperLiga will boost their fortunes as they enter the dog days of summer.
With Sunday's 1-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls, United's 2007 campaign is looking more like a collection of streaks. The 7-2-1 record of May and June has now been bookended by three-game skids as the Black-and-Red have failed to maintain the quality and intensity that lifted them, however briefly, to the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
"The results haven't gone our way the past couple of matches," said midfielder Brian Carroll on Tuesday. "But this gives us a chance to not only play in a tournament and compete for a trophy, but possibly gather ourselves a little bit so when we get back into the league, we can finish off some games and get some better results."
United host Mexican side Monarcas Morelia at RFK Stadium on Wednesday night in the opening match of Group B play, and the home side are desperate to seize the moment in their latest international competition after repeatedly falling short on similar occasions in recent seasons -- often in heartbreaking circumstances.
"We've got a wonderful opportunity here, with this SuperLiga," said Ben Olsen. "I hope we take advantage of it, because you don't just automatically get into these things. We have to take advantage of our tournaments -- we haven't done that in the last couple of years. We've been fairly good at times, but we haven't really closed it and pushed forward and really went for the title. We'd like to win this thing."
With hamstring injuries keeping Jaime Moreno, Bryan Namoff and Guy Roland-Kpene out of action, Olsen's return could be a critical factor against Morelia. The hard-working midfielder was forced to watch the Red Bulls match from the mezzanine due to yellow card accumulation, and while he's eager to return to action, he believes it will take more than his mere presence to galvanize a side that seems to lose its bite in his absence.
"That 'bite' got me to sit on the sideline," Olsen joked. "It's not about me being out there. It's a mentality we have to have as a team when we go out there. We're in this together and we've got to get a little bit meaner -- get that passion back that we lacked earlier in the season, but we got back. Now I feel like we're in a lull and that passion has faded again."
Defensive troubles have also played a major role. The new-look United back line has broken down at crucial moments and with recent arrival Greg Vanney still finding his feet in D.C., communication and organization remain a major focus in training.
"We're just trying to do a few things to get on the same page," said Vanney. "I think we're a little bit working individually and not working collectively. Part of it is just the stretch we're in, maybe -- we're just not clicking yet. Part of it is Ben and Jaime in and out. There's really no excuses, we just need to get on the same page and start playing a little bit harder -- being harder to play against, tackling more through midfield and being a little bit harder in our one-on-one challenges in the back."
United faced CD Guadalajara in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup earlier this year, giving them some experience with the fluid passing and constant movement common to Mexican soccer, and the technically gifted Monarcas should give Vanney and his defensive mates plenty to think about.
"With Mexican teams, if you give them a little bit of space, they'll pass the ball right around you and you'll never be in the game. Watching a little bit of tape, it looks like they're going to come out and press us," Vanney said. "So that'll be interesting, how we handle the press and make sure that we're a close enough, compact unit so they can't play past and in between us with little give-and-goes and one-twos."
U.S. sides have traditionally struggled against Mexican clubs, but for SuperLiga the tables have been turned in one important sense. While most previous meetings have taken place early in the MLS calendar, this competition catches its four Primera Division participants in the midst of their preseason preparations.
"It's another reason why this one needs to be taken advantage of, not only by us, but an MLS team," said Olsen. "Our fitness is there, our shape, our ideas are there, so there's no reason why an MLS team shouldn't win this thing."
Charles Boehm is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
