D.C. United Coach Ben Olsen understands the challenges of constructing the MLS schedule, which must take into account international matches and summer tournaments, nonleague competition, venue availability and national TV demands. And this year, the regular season will end three weeks earlier than usual.
But Olsen also has a hard time accepting his team’s current timeline: a Sunday night match at home, two days to recover, prepare and travel for Wednesday’s game in Toronto, then repeat the process ahead of Saturday’s visit to Houston.
Shortly after the 1-0 victory over Kansas City on Sunday at Audi Field, Olsen bemoaned the league’s calendar as “ridiculous.