Real Salt Lake: Wants to prove Cup victory wasn't fluke

SALT LAKE CITY — With no intentional disrespect, when Real Salt Lake's players take the field this year there will be subtle reminders that rub their opponents' noses in the fact that RSL is the defending MLS Cup champions.

Not only will RSL's jerseys feature an MLS Cup champions patch, but in all games at Rio Tinto Stadium it will play with a commemorative silver ball, the same ball used in the championship game against the L.A. Galaxy last November.

Those perks are an honor for Real Salt Lake, but they'll also serve as extra motivation for opponents. Coach Jason Kreis hopes the perks breed a little more focus in his players this season.

"They will be reminded what they've done, and I'm hoping that's going to breed a little confidence," said Kreis. "I also hope that's going to breed a little accountability and responsibility to play up to that level."

Realistically, Real Salt Lake might be the team playing with the chip on its shoulder in 2010. Many believe its championship was a fluke. After all, the club was fortunate to sneak into the playoffs on the final day of the regular season, and it was the lone team in the playoffs with a losing record.

Despite its excellent form in the playoffs, few outside of Utah reflect back on the 2009 MLS season and talk about Real Salt Lake being the best team.

"People can think what they want to think. Every year you can probably look and say 'I'm not sure that team should've won.' At the end of the day we have the hardware, and we went to everybody's home field basically and took care of business," said RSL midfielder Ned Grabavoy. "People can say what they want to say but we did the job that needed to be done."

Kreis wants his players to do that job much more consistently this season, not just in November.

"We've been quite clear with the players we want to be an elite team in this league, and in my opinion an elite team in this league finishes at the top of the table, an elite team in this league performs consistently to its potential every single week and that's what we're after this year," said Kreis. "It won't be good enough in my opinion to limp into the playoffs this year, we've got to be showing that we're a better team and a more consistent team than that."

Consistently impressive performances in 2010 might be the only way to convince naysayers that the championship patch is no fluke.

That task begins Saturday with the season opener at San Jose. It's the perfect opportunity to win over more believers.