Ahead of a demanding stretch of matches and travel this week, D.C. United Coach Ben Olsen aimed to strike a delicate balance of managing playing time and earning points.
The formula has so far proved successful: United fared well through two tests and kept several starters fresh for the final exam, Saturday’s visit to Houston. Although the end is in sight after earning four of a possible six points, Olsen will need to continue making adjustments and asking his first-place team to improvise.
“It’s been an interesting time to coach because we are adjusting every week and figuring out how best to go about each game, tweaking and pushing these guys mentally,” he said.