There's no rest for the weary for D.C. United, who face another tough stretch with three games in eight days in what has been a jam-packed month of May. Following last week's gauntlet of three games in seven days, in which the Black-and-Red secured four points, a trip to face the New England Revolution on Saturday kicks off a Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday stretch which will put United under more scrutiny to get results and keep pace with the top of the Eastern Conference. 

The Black-and-Red were dealt a 5-2 loss by Real Betis on Wednesday night in front of an announced crowd of 11,201 at Audi Field. Paul Arriola and Junior Moreno were the only starters to feature, while reserves and Loudoun United call-ups received the bulk of playing time against the Spanish side. Arriola is on a red card suspension and will miss Saturday’s return to MLS action, while Moreno has been away following the passing of his father.

There were several positive takeaways from the lopsided result. Griffin Yow came on as a substitute in the first half and went on to net his first goal for the Black-and-Red. The 16-year-old recently returned from taking part in the Under-17 Concacaf Championship in Bradenton, Florida, where he scored four goals in seven games for the Stars and Stripes. Chris Odoi-Atem logged his first minutes for D.C. since returning from a battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and Quincy Amarikwa found the back of the net for the first time in a United shirt.

With three games remaining before MLS play comes to a halt for the Concacaf Gold Cup, D.C. United have every right to believe they can secure nine points and remain at the top of the Eastern Conference. Head coach Ben Olsen is hoping his team can head into the break on a high note and do what’s necessary to maintain the right mentality before a welcome pause in league play.

“Teams in the East now are picking up points and it’s tight,” Olsen said during the week. “There has to be real urgency at every point of the season and getting back to that over the next three games is very important for us.”

All three matches come against teams currently outside of the playoff picture. Saturday’s trip to Foxborough to take on the Revs will see D.C. complete a three-match road trip following visits to Toronto and Houston. The Revs are currently next to last in the Eastern Conference and have a new coach and sporting director at the helm in Bruce Arena. 

Arena has yet to take over for New England, who will be managed by interim coach Mike Lapper. In two games under Lapper, the Revs have picked up four points. It's not quite the same team as the one that was led by Brad Friedel before he got fired, something of which Olsen is fully aware.

“They’ll be desperate. They need a result and they have a new coach that they need to impress. They’re a dynamic group and they’re very, very physical.”

Following Saturday’s trip north is another quick turnaround with a midweek fixture against the Chicago Fire, who occupy ninth place in the East. Finally, Major League Soccer’s all-time leading scorer Chris Wondolowski and the San Jose Earthquakes come to town on Saturday, June 1. The Quakes sit two points below the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Playing three games in a week is never ideal, but Olsen’s men will be looking to plow through and capitalize on very manageable matchups. Taking maximum points from those fixtures would go a long way in setting the team up for success down the stretch.