COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – When the Colorado Rapids entered the 2016 season, they didn’t like what the media were saying about them – 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 franchise’s first ever Supporters' Shield when they travel to face Portland on Sunday (5 pm ET, ESPN | MLS LIVE in Canada).
“I would say it’s a fantastic story of overcoming and belief; belief in self and each other,” Rapids head coach Pablo Mastroeni said of the team’s turnaround. “It’s about camaraderie and team.
"I think it’s old school. The power of team is a throwback. Nowadays we live in a world of teams as just a host for superstars. What we’ve 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.”
As a result, Colorado has become a classic example of a “worst to first” story, even drawing comparisons to Leicester City of the English Premier League, another small team that battled through adversity to win its league’s biggest prize.
“I don’t know how their season went, but I know how it ended,” Mastroeni said of the comparison with Leicester. “I think we would like to follow in their footsteps in that regard.”
Like Leicester, the Rapids have been able to achieve success with key contributions from a few diamonds in the rough. Just like N’Golo Kanté 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 team’s success.
“Coming here, I knew I would get an opportunity to play,” Azira said of his journey from USL journeyman and Seattle Sounders reserve to regular starter in Colorado. “So I’m going to give it all, because the only way to make the team better is making yourself better. I’m just trying to make myself better every day and grow as a person and teammate.”
Like his coach, Azira echoed the importance of the “team” concept playing an important role in Colorado’s success this season. The Rapids front office brought in star players like Jermaine Jones, Tim Howard and Shkëlzen 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.
“We need everyone,” Azira said. “We won’t say ‘big names’ 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.”
Many in the Rapids locker room will tell you that any comparison with the 5,000-1 odds winners of the EPL isn’t exactly like-for-like. But they will tell you that something special has taken place at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park this year.
“I wouldn’t compare ourselves to Leicester City, but I feel like there’s something good going on here,” Azira explained. “It really feels good to have this group of guys and win this amount of games. No matter what happens, we stick together.”
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 didn’t 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.
“It’s about making the most of the situation you’re in, regardless of what that situation is,” Mastroeni said. “This year, it’s never been, ‘this is a great situation or a not so great situation.’ We’ve tried to make every situation great, regardless of the circumstances.”
