Before this season, Rapids midfielder Martín Rivero had never suffered a serious injury in his career. But unfortunately for the 23-year-old playmaker, he’s made up for it throughout the course of a frustrating and injury-riddled 2013, including another knock picked up on Wednesday night.
The Rapids’ leading assist man in 2012 hobbled off the field in the 55th minute of the Rapids' 2-1 loss in Chicago with a quad injury, according to Rapids head coach Oscar Pareja.
“He felt some tightness in his quad,” Pareja in his postgame press conference. “He’s a bit confused now – he’s not sure if it’s a knock there or a pull in his muscle. We’ll be waiting for the doctors.”
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The injury, according to the team, is not believed to be serious, although doctors will further evaluate it on Friday.
Regardless, it’s been a disappointing campaign to date for the talented Argentine, who blossomed into arguably the Rapids’ most important player in his first season at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in 2012.
Counted on to the be the team’s primary playmaker and the engine behind Pareja’s possession-based attack this year, Rivero has only been able to play in seven games so far this season (four starts) due to injury problems. It started on January 29, when he broke his foot in a preseason exhibition against the Portland Timbers.
Shortly after his return from the broken foot, Rivero limped off again in a May 25 with pain in the same foot, forcing him to miss the Rapids’ 2-2 draw against FC Dallas.
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Then, on Wednesday, the quad injury slowed him in the start of the second half and forced him to leave the game early once again.
Rivero succinctly summarized his feelings on Twitter on Thursday afternoon.
“Not a good time for me personally. I am having a very bad year with injuries. But only is [sic] look forward and think positive,” Rivero tweeted on Thursday.
Chris Bianchi covers the Colorado Rapids for MLSsoccer.com.
