Minnesota United chief soccer officer Khaled El-Ahmad always knew he’d have to field offers for his best players.

Just maybe not quite so soon.

“I thought maybe some of these offers would come after the World Cup,” he said. “It’s just a testament to what [manager] Eric [Ramsay] and the players are doing.”

Read more: MNUFC’s Khaled El-Ahmad is proud of club’s player development

GAME STORY: Minnesota United settles for draw with Portland after Robin Lod’s late equalizer

SIDEBAR: Minnesota United fans honor Annunciation Church shooting victims

Minnesota United has a two-week break in the calendar, but when the Loons do return, they will be coming back for perhaps the most pivotal non-playoff week of their season.

After a game Sept. 13 in San Diego — potentially with the top spot in the Western Conference on the line, depending on San Diego’s result against LAFC late Sunday night — Minnesota plays host to Austin midweek on Sept. 17 in a U.S. Open Cup semifinal.

ANALYSIS: Minnesota United gets a break before crucial two-game set