Western Conference leaders Sporting Kansas City have conceded just 10 goals in the 15 Major League Soccer games that they have played so far this season. Real Salt Lake have conceded 11 goals in their last two matches.
A disastrous 6-2 defeat against FC Dallas followed on from the club’s 5-1 mauling at the hands of Houston Dynamo last weekend. The latest loss means that Mike Petke’s side have now lost 10 out of 16 matches played so far.
They aren’t quite at the bottom of the table just yet. However, having already played in more games than any other Western Conference side, there could be as much as six points between them and the second worst team in the division, had each team played the same amount of times.
Of course, RSL’s recent poor spell isn’t entirely their fault. The club currently have five players out through injury or suspension, but that has improved since the FC Dallas clash. In that game, the club were without 12 of their first-team players. David Horst, Jordan Allen, Chad Barrett and Demar Phillips all missed out through injury, while Stephen Sunday was suspended. Likewise, Brooks Lennon, Justen Glad, Sebastian Saucedo and Danny Acosta were all away on international duty and Luis Silva was unavailable due to a poorly timed wedding.
With just 14 players available, it came as little surprise that RSL were picked apart by one of the league’s strongest sides. With few options available, players are getting little time to rest. Yet, it is mental exhaustion that will be affecting them most. The atmosphere in the RSL camp will undoubtedly be negative after so many poor results and that is a tough position to get out of. The players go out expecting to lose and subsequently do.
It is Petke’s job to keep his players motivated until they are able to find a way out of the slump. The new boss, who took the job in March, when the season had already started, has struggled to find a system that works. The club have played 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3 and 4-4-2 so far this season, but have had little luck.
The struggling boss has attempted to deflect the blame away from his players, suggesting that their poor performances were his fault for a number of reasons. Yet, it has had little effect on results.
The job was always going to be tough for a manager that has been thrown back into MLS life after three years away from the top flight. He hasn’t had the opportunity to put his stamp on the squad, or the time to drill the players he inherited in his style of play. Yet, such is the life of a football manager. There is no time for excuses - Petke must turn Real Salt Lake’s fortunes around, or he may find himself out of a job.