January 16, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Colorado Rapids News Release
The MLS offseason is officially over and the Rapids are ready to embark on 2024’s iteration of preseason training. Before the squad departed for Querétaro, Mexico, Rapids President Pádraig Smith, Head Coach Chris Armas, Cole Bassett, Keegan Rosenberry, Omir Fernandez, Djordje Mihailovic and Zack Steffen met with the media to discuss the busy offseason and preparations for the upcoming season.
Thinking about point B
The Rapids understand what and where their point A is-a place to build a foundation on, a chip-on-the-shoulder mindset, a hunger for more in 2024. Point B is the podium where Armas’ side hoists the MLS Cup.
“We start off with the destination and then work our way backwards-so, what what’s your B? For us, it’s pretty simple. We want to win MLS Cup. To win MLS Cup, you have to be in the playoffs, that’s the very, very minimum,” said Colorado Rapids President Pádraig Smith.
That message has already been disseminated throughout the locker room and adopted by players, both returning and just arriving to Colorado’s pitch.
“When I was little, I played this game to have fun and also to win as many trophies as I can,” said Mihailovic. “But I think what’s going on in Colorado, the passion that the President and the coach are bringing and what their main objective is very clear to us, to the city and to the rest of the league is. We’re not here to just barely make playoffs. We’re here to compete to the top of the table.”
International caliber
The arrivals of Steffen, Mihailovic and Miguel Navarro brought further international talents to the Colorado pitch. Steffen and Mihailovic hold a combined 40 caps with the U. S. Men’s National Team, while Navarro represents Venezuela’s senior national team, having accumulated nine caps with the Vinotinto.
“When I was talking to Chris Sharpe and Chris Armas about coming here they were saying that Djordje was interested, and they’re trying to bring in some players. I was really excited,” said Steffen. “Djordje, he’s a great player, and he has some good experience that he can help the team within. I’m just excited to start preseason and start linking up with him and then pushing him and then vice versa and then hopefully having a great season.”
Bassett, Darren Yapi and Adam Beaudry have all received multiple call-ups in the past year alone, including Yapi’s three appearances in the FIFA U-20 World Cup this year and Beaudry’s own three…
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