COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – Will 2016 prove to be the most important season in Colorado Rapids history? Head coach Pablo Mastroeni seems to think so, conveying that message to reporters in a press conference last week.
But does the Rapids front office agree? Rapids vice president of soccer operations and technical director Paul Bravo offered a bit more of a long-term approach on what the 2016 season will mean for Colorado in a sit-down interview with media on Wednesday. But he made it very clear that the Rapids are facing a pivotal season.
“It’s certainly a very important season for us,” Bravo said. “I certainly understand where Pablo is coming from as a coach in his third year. The team hadn’t performed up to the standard we had set. I have a longer term view, but it’s a very important year to turn the tide on what has been a disappointing 18 months.”
The urgency has been clearly outlined, but Mastroeni isn’t on the hot seat, according to Bravo.
“Each year that goes by, our league gets more and more publicity. There’s a lot more pressure than there used to be,” he said. “I wouldn’t say that Pablo is on the hot seat any more than some of the other coaches in this league. Who would’ve thought that Jason Kreis would’ve been on the hot seat [at NYCFC]? It really would be irresponsible for me to label it a hot seat.
“It would be irresponsible for me to put a date or time on Pablo’s job,” Bravo added. “We have a head coach and we’re moving forward with him.”
As one would expect of a team attempting to change its fortunes, Colorado have been busy in the offseason. The Rapids’ technical staff has brought in 10 new players for 2016, including the recent acquisition of Jermaine Jones.
In addition to the completed signings, Bravo confirmed reports of the team’s previous interest in Mexican international Alan Pulido, who currently plays in Greece but is involved in an ongoing dispute with previous club Tigres, and US national team midfielder Alejandro Bedoya.
“We made a play at Pulido. In the end, we decided to move in a different direction because of the complications behind it: FIFA and the legal issues that are surrounding the case,” Bravo explained.
He also confirmed that Colorado was turned down when approaching FC Nantes for Bedoya. The setbacks helped open the door to signing what Bravo called the Rapids’ “top attacking target” in Swiss-Albanian international Shkëlzen Gashi.
“It made it easy for us to move forward there,” Bravo said. “Would we liked to have all three of them? Yes, but that’s probably not a realistic target, given the cap world that we live in.”
Signing Gashi was easy. Letting go of MLS All-Stars and fan favorites Drew Moor and Clint Irwin, who both departed for Toronto FC in the offseason, were much harder decisions.
“While these decisions are tough, and we don’t take them lightly,” Bravo said. “We feel that they were for the betterment of the club. Drew has been nothing short of spectacular for this club. Free agency is free agency. It’s a new world we live in. With Clint, here’s a guy that we’ve identified and developed. He’s turned into a very good and quality starting goalkeeper. That’s not an easy one, either.”
Colorado’s technical staff isn’t finished with adding pieces, however. Bravo declined comment on any player not currently on the Rapids’ roster, but multiple reports point to the team making a push for USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard.
“When you go through the deals that we were picking up in the offseason with [targeted allocation money] and general allocation money, we put ourselves in a position to add to and strengthen the group,” Bravo said. “We will do that. We plan to finalize something here in the next few days on one of our targets and continue to monitor the situation outside of our team. We have enough flexibility to add a couple of impact players.”
Bravo went on to explain that the Rapids could be seeking additional support along the backline as well as the attack, given the anticipated absences of Gashi and fellow forward Kevin Doyle for Euro 2016 this summer.
“Part of my job is to constantly look at ways in which we can upgrade our roster. No line is immune to that point,” Bravo said.
The on-field results have yet to be determined, but it’s apparent that the competitive juices have been flowing for the player-turned-executive in his attempt to return the Rapids to prominence, while seeking the proper personnel for the task at hand.
“That’s just the way I live in this job. I take nothing for granted,” Bravo said. “I don’t get to put my shorts and cleats on and make a difference. My work is done behind the scenes. It’s hard work and selfless sometimes, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. You need to provide results in the job you’re doing.”
