As strange as it may sound, D.C. United might have made progress last weekend. Perhaps that’s because there was no further downward to go.
United hit rock bottom with its 3-1 loss to Chivas USA, but things are looking up with three starters — Fred, Devon McTavish and Gonzalo Peralta — all slated to travel and hopefully return to the D.C. lineup Wednesday at Toronto.
“I think we took half a step in the right direction in L.A.,” said McTavish, who hasn’t played in four games. “As a bystander, just watching on TV, we started doing stuff that we hadn’t been doing the previous games. Just that one slip-up and it all fell apart again, but if we can put together 30 more minutes, we’d be in great shape. I think it’s getting closer. We’re not as far off as everyone thinks we are.”
United (2-6-0) was ahead, aggressive and in charge until a crushing three-goals-in-10-minutes span resulted in a third straight loss, showing the fragile state of a team trying desperately to turn around its fortunes.
“I still have a lot of confidence in the guys we brought in and the team,” said United head coach Tom Soehn. “Once we get everybody back, it’s nice to have options of how you want to play. We haven’t had that luxury for a long time. It makes my job a little bit easier.”
Soehn’s improved situation, despite an increasing amount of pressure, contrasts with that of the players, especially with no contracts guaranteed until July 1 and the international transfer window set to reopen next month.
“[The coaches] always get criticized, that’s kind of the way it is,” said McTavish. “But we as players have as much pressure as they do right now because [general manager Dave] Kasper and KP, [United president Kevin Payne], are kind of — if they’re not getting results, they’re going to need to try to get a new set of players. There’s pressure all around the locker room right now.”
