But three consecutive shutout defeats at home — which have left United last in the Eastern Conference and tied for last overall in scoring with nine goals in 11 matches — have surely heightened the importance of addressing personnel matters.

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“It’s always heightened,” he said. “It was heightened last year when we made those moves. The business of professional sports, we live in ‘heightened.’ The summer transfer window is [at] a time if you are not in the greatest spot from a standings standpoint. Yeah, it’s heightened.”

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Last year, after a sputtering start, United did not sign anyone from abroad during the summer window but did trade for striker Patrick Mullins and midfielder Lloyd Sam.

Olsen declined to go into detail about particular targets or positional priorities this year. Club sources said a few weeks ago that United was eyeing a defensive midfielder and flank players to bolster a lineup that has now gone scoreless in all but four matches during the 3-6-2 campaign.

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Olsen did say United has the necessary salary cap space to add talent. Club officials have said they would consider pursuing a designated player, a signing that would require the frugal club to cover salary figures beyond the obligation of the centralized league.

D.C. and expansion Minnesota are the only teams in the 22-strong league without a designated player.

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United would’ve had a bit more cap space to work with, but instead of buying out Chris Rolfe’s $275,000 guaranteed contract, management left it on the books. By doing so, the league, not the team, is responsible for paying Rolfe, whose career is unofficially over because of concussion issues. Because the league is responsible for Rolfe’s earnings, they must count against the cap.

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Although the team is actively seeking help, Olsen continues to keep faith in the current group, one that has been undercut by injuries to key figures.

“Everyone else gets to use the excuse card or the injury card,” he said. “We have some pieces that will help us, but put that aside for a second: The group we have right now, yes, it’s good enough to win games in this league.”

Left wing Patrick Nyarko has missed six matches with a hamstring injury. Defender-midfielder Nick DeLeon (hernia surgery) is in the middle of a long layoff. Center back Steve Birnbaum sat out three games with a concussion, striker Patrick Mullins four with a strained hamstring.

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Playmaker Luciano Acosta missed the first two matches with an ankle ailment, then sat out Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Chicago with a red-card suspension. Reserve midfielder Rob Vincent underwent minor knee surgery, then acquired a blood clot. Defender Sean Franklin (hamstring) has skipped two matches.

Nyarko is close to returning and Acosta is eligible to play this Saturday at Vancouver. However, the Argentine midfielder left Tuesday’s training session early with what Olsen describes as a “moody ankle. It’s something we’re going to be dealing with all season.”

The shorthanded shortcomings have come in spite of preseason proclamations about quality of depth. Among others to disappoint the club, forward Jose Guillermo Ortiz, a Costa Rican newcomer, and midfielder Julian Buescher, a 2016 first-round draft pick, haven’t panned out.

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So in the big picture, what has gone wrong?

“I don’t think we have enough guys right now playing at the level that they can play at,” Olsen said. “If one or two guys are doing that, you can get away with it sometimes. But three or four …”

The only player to stand out Saturday — and, for that matter, in most matches this season — was goalkeeper Bill Hamid, who, time and again, has bailed out the team with sterling saves.

United defied statistics in winning in Atlanta on April 30. For the most part, though, it either hasn’t performed well enough to deserve three points or failed to overcome adversity.

“There are a whole bunch of ways to win games when you are not at your best,” Olsen said. “We’re not finding ways to do that.”

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In training, Olsen has emphasized connecting on more passes while continuing to push players to earn starting spots. “Because right now,” he said, “most spots are up for grabs.”

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United notes: Nyarko, sidelined since April 8, said he isn’t sure whether the team will summon him for the trip to Vancouver, wait for the Orlando visit next Wednesday or take precautions and wait for the June 3 home match against Los Angeles. …

Franklin and midfielder Lamar Neagle (shoulder) worked out on the side Tuesday. Franklin seems doubtful for the next two matches, but Olssen said Neagle should be available this weekend. …