This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Jason Kreis wasn't pulling any punches following Real Salt Lake's 3-0 loss to the Chicago Fire on Wednesday.Kreis worried about RSL's mental makeup going into the final stretch of games going into the playoffs."There's so much to play for in my eyes and I guess maybe I'm not getting that message through to the players," Kreis said. "Maybe they think they can lose all of the rest of the games and walk into the playoffs and win."Kreis criticized the defense for giving up soft goals and "cheating" on defense, or not playing in proper position."We got punished for it. Again, a lack of discipline."As for any hangover from the 4-1 beating at D.C. United on Saturday, Kreis wasn't buying it."I don't know how there could be," he said. "Count up the number of players who participated in that match. I don't how the players who were out there tonight would have any hangover resulting from that last match. Quite frankly, most of them weren't part of it."Meanwhile, midfielder Will Johnson was disappointed by the team's back-to-back performances, but appeared calmer about the situation."We can't peak too early," he said. "Come playoff time, we'll be alright."martyr@sltrib.comTwitter@RSLtribune.com