Nick Cushing has praised the attitude and application of his players as they navigate a testing MLS schedule.
The Boys in Blue have racked up the air miles across the last few weeks, taking in road trips to Salt Lake, Portland, Atlanta, and Montréal in recent weeks.
They were afforded a brief stay at home with a game against Charlotte this week, but are back on the road this weekend as they take on Columbus Crew, in Ohio.
"It's been a crazy schedule from the moment that we that we went five on the road," Cushing said.
"We then have the luxury of going three at home and then we've been here there and everywhere; Atlanta to Portland and back to Montreal and back and then Charlotte midweek.
"It's been a crazy schedule, but the boys have really embraced it. They're really committed to regeneration and recovery and making sure that they are as fresh as possible.
"We have the luxury of being able to flip a few guys if needed so we'll make some changes. It's difficult to make changes - of course we didn't win - but the team is playing well.
"In the past I've rolled the same team so it's going be a difficult lineup to pick but having the opportunity to bring guys off the bench gives us fresh legs."
The team's defence is something Cushing expects to be tested when his side takes on the Crew.
Wilfried Nancy's team has scored the most goals in MLS this season, and while Cushing acknowledged the test they represent, he was also keen to see his side record another clean sheet on the road.
"We know this Columbus team is very dangerous," he said.
"We know that they have a lot of quality with the likes of Cucho Hernandez, Lucas Zelarayán, Christian Ramirez, and Alexandru Matan.
"They have a lot of quality all over the field and attackers that are in form so Columbus is a difficult place to go. We know we're going to have to be defensively solid, but if we can keep the ball well and we can play well with the ball, we reduce the amount of time that they have to create chances."
Meanwhile, Cushing also highlighted the quality of midfielder Richy Ledezma as he continues to grow into the side.
The 22-year-old arrived at the Club on loan in March and has tallied four assists in 16 MLS outings. Ledezma is still waiting to register his first goal for the Boys in Blue, Cushing challenged the midfielder to break his duck in pursuit of further development.
"I think he's shown his quality I think we knew he was a quality player," he said.
"You don't leave this league and go to Europe if you don't have really high potential and he plays for a top team in the Netherlands.
"We knew that he would be an important player for us and we had a real desire to bring him here. I think he's been good and I said to Richy after the Charlotte game that I thought he has performed well.
"For me, he has to start adding goals to his game. In a game like the Charlotte game, that type of player I think can impose themselves even more on the game, whether to create a goal for yourself or go and make something happen and get a goal chance for someone else.
"I think if he gets the opportunity, he will create goals. He has good vision and great technique and he understands the game really well.
"He's a great guy. I think if you want to be a top 10 offensive midfield attacker in our league, you have to look at the numbers that the likes of Daniel Gazdag, Sebastian Driussi, and Hany Mukhtar are putting up on the board.
"That is the standard, and we push our players every day to be in that echelon of real impact and important players."
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