a 1-0 win against Houston last Saturday. And Real do not play again until next Saturday, when they play host to the Chicago Fire.
The priority over the last week has been to keep the momentum going.
"With a large break like this, you've got to do what you can to stay sharp," Real coach Jason Kreis said. "We felt like the last time we had a long break and we gave them a little time off, it bit us a little bit. So we decided not to do that this time, and the guys are responding extremely well to it."
Midfielder Andy Williams said Kreis has reminded the team several times of what happened earlier in the season.
"Hopefully, we don't come out lethargic like last time, and we learned our lesson," Williams said. The only thing to do, he said, is to "keep playing competitive games in practice, and keep reminding ourselves that it's not over yet, we've only won one game, and don't make the same mistake twice."
Among Kreis' other priorities in training, he is keeping an eye on the three Argentinian trialists that are working out with the team: Edgar Espindola, Javier Morales and Matias Mantilla. Once the three have received government work permits, Real likely will sign at least two of them.
"They are gaining fitness right now," Kreis said. "Anytime we have some trialists come in, it has been difficult to judge them because we are at altitude, and most of those guys are in their offseason right now, so to bring someone in that lacks fitness is a difficult situation. But, it's nice to have them here for a longer time, and now they are really starting to gain the fitness where they can really show what they have over the next week."
Also, if the current trend holds, Real's midfield will continue to improve and work together as a unit. Kreis mentioned after last Saturday's win against Houston how well the trio of Carey Talley, Kyle Beckerman and Nathan Sturgis are playing together.
"It's really amazing to us, as a staff, how quickly those guys clicked, have just hit it off, and it's because all three players are similar players," Kreis said. "All are intelligent, keep themselves in the right spot a lot of the time, and make good decisions whether it's with the ball or without it."
Williams sat out of the Houston game through suspension and could not participate with the developing midfield unit. Williams has been Real's attacking midfielder for several weeks, and he has seen the same kind of improvement in that area of the field.
"You have to keep doing what we've been working on in practice, especially with the midfield of Sturgis and Carey and Kyle; they all possess the ball well, and it's been a welcome addition to have those guys in the midfield," Williams said. "We're all on the same page -- we cover each other well, and our communication among each other is pretty good, and it will only get better and better each day.
Peter Richins is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
