Union dealing with shaky confidence

It's not a shocking revelation that the Union are a team lacking confidence. A 2-7-5 start for a team that was expected to compete for a Major League Soccer Eastern Conference playoff spot would dent any team's psyche.

What is a little surprising is how candid manager John Hackworth is when talking about his team's collective confidence, or lack thereof.

"It is tough to define where exactly the confidence is," Hackworth said in a conference call from California, where the Union are preparing for Saturday's game against Chivas USA. "The players - I still think they believe in each other and themselves, but it is hard to believe and to keep that confidence when you continually are giving up goals the way we are."

The Union have allowed 24 goals, tied with Houston for the most in MLS. On Sunday, the Union lost, 4-1, on the road against Los Angeles. The Galaxy got on the board in the second minute and scored the game's first four goals before the Union answered with a late penalty kick by Maurice Edu.

In their last two games, the Union have allowed nine goals, losing by 5-3 to the visiting New England Revolution. To put that statistic in perspective, the nine goals are the number the Galaxy have surrendered in 10 MLS games.

"You can see on the field the guys get deflated in those moments," Hackworth said. "It's a struggle for them right now."

The Union remained in the Los Angeles area because Chivas USA and the Galaxy play their games in the same venue, the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.

Chivas USA fell to 2-6-4 after Wednesday's home loss to the Portland Timbers. At this point, a win over any team would do wonders for the Union's confidence.

"I don't want to lie and say we are still very confident," Hackworth said. "You have a group of guys through these circumstances who have been tested in their resolve."

The Union also will be tested by a dangerous goal scorer, Erick Torres, who leads Chivas USA with eight goals.

This week has been a balancing act for Hackworth. He has had to work the Union hard after such a disappointing showing in the last two games, but he also has to help rebuild the fractured confidence.

"Players are as frustrated as anybody in this situation," Hackworth said. "They know they are much better than the results they have been getting."

So Hackworth has tried to accent the positive. He said he has seen good things in training this week. The key is to translate that to the actual games.

"We have to work through things, and these are hard times for us - no question," Hackworth said. "But we see a light at the end of the tunnel, and hopefully it will be recognized on Saturday night."