D.C. United's performances have "got to be better" than what the team showed in last week's lopsided defeat to the Red Bulls, said a still-frustrated coach Ben Olsen.
The Eastern Conference leaders were embarrassed as New York rolled to a 3-0 win on Aug. 30 and trimmed United's advantage to two points with three games in hand.
Olsen didn't waste words in saying he was still stewing about the defeat -- D.C.'s third in a row -- as United return to training after a bye week.
"I haven't [forgotten about the loss]," Olsen told reporters. "It still pisses me off. Hopefully it still pisses our guys off.
"I don't care what we take into the next game. It's got to be better than what we showed in New York.
"But I think we're all committed to doing that. We have to show up on game day and show that we're a better team than we have been the past several weeks."
But Olsen said Tuesday's training session showed positive signs that his team might be getting back on track as they prepare to travel to Colorado this weekend.
"It was good energy today," Olsen said. "When you're off three days you have some guys come back with good energy, others come back with good energy but also rust. So it's always good to just get out there, let them touch the ball as much as possible, and get a good sweat, get those three days of vacation out of their system. Then tomorrow, we'll see a better rhythm while we gear up for an important week against a good team in Colorado.
"We're playing them at a time where they seem to be playing some of their best stuff of the season, but that's how it goes. Obviously we need a result; we've got a busy two-week stretch here with CONCACAF as well, so this is an important two weeks."
Forward Fabian Espindola returned from injury to train on Tuesday, and D.C. also expect Markus Halsti and Alvaro Saboria back from international duty, but Davy Arnaud is still day-to-day following a concussion.