There is no more time for talk. With seven matches to play, results are the only things that matter for Real Salt Lake.
Speaking on his weekly appearance on The Bill & OC Show on ESPN 700 on Wednesday, Real Salt Lake General Manager Craig Waibel said RSL is as close to saying every match is a “must-win” game as it can be.
“I think if there’s a door to knock on, we’re knocking on it now. We’re at the mercy of not only our results but other results now,” Waibel said. “We’re as close to must win as you can get without having to say it I guess. But it’s time. We’re healthy. We’re in a good spot. We just had some rest and it’s time to finally piece this thing together and get a little run.”
RSL had the weekend off last week and now has a chance to gain some ground on its Western Conference foes with a match Saturday against the Houston Dynamo at BBVA Compass Stadium. It’s the start of a string of five matches in 16 days that will include two midweek CONCACAF Champions League matches against Santa Tecla from El Salvador.
With RSL sitting in 10th place in the Western Conference with seven matches to play, the club needs to make up nine points in the standings to catch Seattle Sounders FC, Sporting Kansas City and the Portland Timbers, who hold the final three spots in the West with 41 points each.
“It’s just time to get it done,” Waibel proclaimed. “There’s no more wonderment. It’s just time to get results. That’s all there is to it.”
RSL has been bolstered defensively in the last few weeks by the return of center back Jamison Olave, and while the team is just 1-2-0 since his return to the field on August 15 after a two-month absence due to injury, his presence has meant wonders for a defense that has been up and down all season.
“We went into the season with a plan with Chris Schuler and Jamison Olave being partners,” Waibel said, noting the Schuler has undergone successful surgery to repair a fracture left foot after playing just five matches this season. “That obviously didn’t hold true due to injuries and some things we hadn’t foreseen. We’ve seen reserve center backs that are younger step in and have some very good games and then the occasional poor game. Jamison’s return from injury was really key to us the last couple of weeks.”
To hear the full interview, click here.
