WASHINGTON – There’s little time for D.C. United to dwell on the weekend loss to Colorado as the team prepares for a busy week that began Tuesday.
The club trained in windy and rainy conditions, and with two games in four days – a U.S. Open Cup play-in game against the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday, before Supporters’ Shield holders LA Galaxy come to town this weekend – DC are looking to bounce back from two straight losses in league play.
“It’s a big week for us,” Olsen said. “The Open Cup we always take pride in and want to advance there, and obviously the matchup against LA.”
Having had a couple of days to analyze and go over the tape from the 4-1 loss against the Rapids, Olsen wasn’t too upset despite the lopsided score line.
“Colorado’s never an easy task, but as I look at that game and kind of fine-tooth it, it wasn’t that bad,” he said. “There was some really good stuff and I thought battling back and getting that goal, we were right where we wanted to be at that point in the game.
“I’m not discouraged, I’m disappointed, it’s never fun to lose those games but again, this is a process, we’re going to learn week-in, week-out who we are and we’re going to get better.”
Things are positive on the injury front as well. Both Jed Zayner and Clyde Simms, who sat out the last two games with minor injuries, were back in training Tuesday. Forward Charlie Davies, who was a late scratch from the weekend trip to Colorado, didn’t train, but he could still be available for the weekend game.
Olsen also indicated that defender Perry Kitchen could be available as well after the U.S. U-20 CONCACAF qualifying game against Guatemala – depending if coach Thomas Rongen agrees to release the rookie defender. Dejan Jakovic returns from his red-card suspension.
At this point in the season, it’s still early, but players understand that it’s a big week. Finding a way to put together a few wins is important.
“It’s so early in the season, but you look at this game and look at the home games, and this [LA game] is a big one,” midfielder Santino Quaranta said. “You have the Open Cup Wednesday, and Saturday – you don’t want to lose three games in a row, and next week you go to Toronto, it’s not easy.”
Olsen stressed that this is still a team coming into its own, looking to come together as a group, and it’s going to take some time. This week will provide another early test for a young team.
“This is a process with us,” he said. “We’re always optimistic and think everything’s going to click right away, but the reality is, it’s a new group. We’re a young group and we’re going to have days when we learn hard lessons.”
