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Ousman Jabang didn鈥檛 leave much room for a counterargument 鈥� nor did he try particularly hard 鈥� when asked if he鈥檚 seen a more confident New Mexico United of late. 

Then again, it was a stance that was hard to argue with. Going more than a month without a loss tends to lend itself to some rather strong points.

鈥淚t feels like, and I don鈥檛 want to say turning the corner, but it feels like we鈥檙e on a good trajectory right now,鈥� the defender said ahead of last Saturday鈥檚 1-0 win at Sacramento Republic FC, United鈥檚 first in the California capital since 2019.

鈥淕uys are starting to read each other in terms of chemistry, in terms of habits, positions we need to take up, how to stay fluid, but also trying to remain structured.鈥�

United (5-4-3) will get the opportunity to test that theory, but it鈥檒l be a while.

The USL Championship mandates 鈥� through a collective bargaining provision 鈥� its clubs take a mental health break. New Mexico鈥檚 comes amid a five-match unbeaten streak, a stretch that鈥檚 allowed United to move from eighth in the 12-team Western Conference standings to fifth, with 18 points. 

New Mexico currently sits one point behind fourth-place FC Tulsa and three behind both second-place Oakland Roots SC and San Antonio FC, which is in third. 

Disappointing? Perhaps not. Ideal? The timing maybe could have been better. It just comes down to taking everything in stride.

鈥淵ou learn as a coach, and in life, you just got to roll with it,鈥� manager Dennis Sanchez said. 鈥淵ou know, there鈥檚 things that I can control. There鈥檚 things that I can鈥檛 control.鈥�

The schedule being one of the things Sanchez can鈥檛.

United will have 11 days off between its match in Sacramento and its home international friendly against La Liga MX side Atlante FC on July 1. The club will have 14 days between USL Championship matchups. New Mexico hosts Oakland on July 4.

From now until then, it鈥檚 about finding the balance between staying sharp and not overdoing things, momentum or not. But training sessions aren鈥檛 always a great substitute for matches.

鈥淚n some ways, it鈥檚 gonna be nice just to kind of rest up and hopefully get some guys back and get them up to speed with their fitness,鈥� Sanchez said. 鈥淏ut at the same time, there鈥檚 a level of rhythm there that we need.

鈥淏ut I think we鈥檒l utilize the week accordingly and make sure we take care of the guys that are a little bit banged up and look forward to the friendly and anything after that.鈥�

There are a few working their way back from injury.

Forward/defender Jake LaCava has been dealing with a toe fracture. Midfielder Valentin No毛l has missed time with a hamstring strain. Forward Niall Reid-Stephen has an MCL injury. All three usually feature in the starting lineup. Some extra time to rehab those injuries and get back to full strength will have its benefits.

That time off should as well. As they have in the past, the players will get some leisure time at the end of the week to get away from the facility and the pitch to relax and recharge. That could mean watching the World Cup, enjoying a swim at the pool or taking a few swings at a golf driving range. 

The hope is the break ends up with some dividends, and that trajectory stays on course.

鈥淚 think it allows us to take a step back and have four days to really train things that we can work on, whether that鈥檚 more individual, group functional, these types of things,鈥� Sanchez said. 鈥淪o, we鈥檒l take it in hand, but we鈥檙e going to utilize the time. And as always, with that process, take advantage of it and then get ready for the friendly.鈥�

David Glovach covers New Mexico United and other sports for the Journal. Reach him at dglovach@abqjournal.com or via X .