While MLS veterans Ozzie Alonso and Ike Opara have been credited with most of Minnesota United’s leadership this season, international addition Jan Gregus has stepped up, as well.

After a 4-3 loss to Toronto FC on April 19, the Slovakian national team midfielder and United’s third Designated Player was one of a few Loons to raise his voice in the dressing room — although his exact message can’t be printed in a family newspaper.

“You would have to bleep me a lot,” Gregus said.

“I was very mad because … we were winning the game two times and we dropped it,” he added. “I just told the guys this can’t happen again. We can’t lose games like this.”

United (4-3-3) hasn’t lost in any fashion in the three games since (1-0-2) heading into Saturday’s game against Chicago Fire (2-4-4) at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Ill. Gregus, however, said it’s premature to call the Toronto game a turning point.

“Maybe we can say it with more time,” he said. “In football and in life, everything can change very quickly. I don’t want to say we are the best now; we still have a lot to improve, and I hope that we are going to keep improving.”

Gregus’ caution has been backed up by the unpredictable finishes in UEFA Champions League semifinals this week. Liverpool was down 3-0 to Barcelona after the first leg but pulled out a 4-0 win Tuesday to advance to the final. Tottenham was down 3-0 to Ajax in aggregate at halftime of Wednesday’s second leg and rallied for a 3-2 win — with a third goal in added time.

“Nobody believed in them,” Gregus said of Liverpool. “I didn’t think they could score three goals, and like everybody saw, everything is possible.”

Since joining United in preseason, Gregus has been leading by example as well. Nearly every day after the team’s training sessions at the National Sports Center in Blaine, he puts in overtime on fundamental work. While others pull the plug, he will set up cones on the grass field and might loop in a teammate for some dribbling drills. Or he’ll go inside and, with most of the lights off, pass to himself off cider-block walls.

“I just try to be better every day,” he said. “That’s what I do.”

Gregus’ routines vary based on the day, especially as game day nears. What does Gregus do then?

“It’s a secret,” Gregus said with a laugh. “Can’t tell you. … It’s about the feeling.”

Gregus even laughed off a moment when his pride could have taken a hit last week. During an outdoor shooting drill in training, he sent a high, looping shot well over the goal and into the players’ parking lot, where it was heard smashing into someone’s vehicle.

It turned out to be Gregus’ black Ford Explorer, although he was initially circumspect. Many teammates also booted balls over the goal and nearby fence that day.

“I laughed so much,” he said. “I was saying, ‘Don’t believe what the media says.’ There were many that went over, so I’m not sure it was mine.”

But the timing helped prove he was responsible for the damage to his own SUV. The ball only knocked the back casing off the passenger side mirror — a quick fix, he said.

“Now I know where to park,” he said. “I park closer to the fence.”

Gregus earned a bit of redemption with free kick he served up for Opara to head in for a goal in the 26th minute of Saturday’s 1-1 draw with the Seattle Sounders at Allianz Field. He was brought to Minnesota, in part, to provide service to teammates with his right foot on corners and free kicks, as well as in open play.

Before Saturday, United was one of four MLS teams without a goal off a set piece. United coach Adrian Heath called the plays “dangerous” one week and then “awful” the next.

“At times, it’s been the runs are there and the service hasn’t been there,” Opara said last week. “Sometimes it’s been the service has been there and the runs haven’t been there, so (we’re) trying to get on the same page consistently.”

Breaking through was “nice,” Gregus said, but similar to when he scored his first goal for Minnesota in a 3-2 loss to Los Angles Galaxy on March 16, he wasn’t in a laughing mood.

“I didn’t have much time to celebrate because we had to score another one to tie the game,” he said.

Across his first 10 games in Minnesota, Gregus has shown he’s willing to smile and be serious.

BRIEFLY

United attacker Abu Danladi walked off Wednesday’s training session with an undisclosed issue. He also limped off Friday’s training session, which went into why he was left off the game-day 18-player roster in Saturday’s draw. … United loanees Carter Manley, Mason Toye, Wyatt Omsberg and Dayne St. Clair trained with Minnesota on Wednesday and will now return to USL affiliate Forward Madison.