COMMERCE CITY, Colo. ā When the Colorado Rapids entered the 2016 season, they didnāt like what the media were saying about them ā so they decided to write their own story.
Many picked Colorado to once again finish last in a stacked Western Conference after back-to-back finishes at the bottom of the table in 2014 and 2015. Instead, the Rapids find themselves positioned to win the franchiseās first ever Supporters' Shield when they travel to face Portland on Sunday (5 pm ET, ESPN | MLS LIVE in Canada).
āI would say itās a fantastic story of overcoming and belief; belief in self and each other,ā Rapids head coach Pablo Mastroeni said of the teamās turnaround. āItās about camaraderie and team.
"I think itās old school. The power of team is a throwback. Nowadays we live in a world of teams as just a host for superstars. What weāve been able to do this year is give the power back to the team. What the guys have done is give themselves to be part of something greater.ā
As a result, Colorado has become a classic example of a āworst to firstā story, even drawing comparisons to Leicester City of the English Premier League, another small team that battled through adversity to win its leagueās biggest prize.
āI donāt know how their season went, but I know how it ended,ā Mastroeni said of the comparison with Leicester. āI think we would like to follow in their footsteps in that regard.ā
Like Leicester, the Rapids have been able to achieve success with key contributions from a few diamonds in the rough. Just like NāGolo KantĆ© did for Leicester in their 2015-16 campaign, Rapids midfielder Micheal Azira has been a pivotal midfield component, rising from relative obscurity to key contributor in his teamās success.
āComing here, I knew I would get an opportunity to play,ā Azira said of his journey from USL journeyman and Seattle Sounders reserve to regular starter in Colorado. āSo Iām going to give it all, because the only way to make the team better is making yourself better. Iām just trying to make myself better every day and grow as a person and teammate.ā
Like his coach, Azira echoed the importance of the āteamā concept playing an important role in Coloradoās success this season. The Rapids front office brought in star players like Jermaine Jones, Tim Howard and ShkĆ«lzen Gashi, but perhaps more impressive was the manner in which Colorado has continued to string together results, even with those players out of the lineup.
āWe need everyone,ā Azira said. āWe wonāt say ābig namesā or anything like that. It was good to have Jermaine Jones with the team. But what would we do if he was not there? Everyone is ready to go. [Dominique] Badji, Eric Miller, Mekeil [Williams] and all of these guys.ā
Many in the Rapids locker room will tell you that any comparison with the 5,000-1 odds winners of the EPL isnāt exactly like-for-like. But they will tell you that something special has taken place at Dickās Sporting Goods Park this year.
āI wouldnāt compare ourselves to Leicester City, but I feel like thereās something good going on here,ā Azira explained. āIt really feels good to have this group of guys and win this amount of games. No matter what happens, we stick together.ā
One might describe the Rapids' accomplishments as a fluke, a miracle, or a longshot, depending on who you ask. But Mastroeni believes in the mantra that everyone controls their own destiny. He didnāt waver from that stance this week, even as the team prepares to fight for the Supporters' Shield on the home turf of the defending MLS Champions in Portland, a team which is also clawing for their spot in the playoffs.
āItās about making the most of the situation youāre in, regardless of what that situation is,ā Mastroeni said. āThis year, itās never been, āthis is a great situation or a not so great situation.ā Weāve tried to make every situation great, regardless of the circumstances.ā