Ten Takeaways From the 2024 Rapids Media Day

COMMERCE CITY – Monday afternoon, amid Snow Clasico conditions, Burgundy Wave attended the 2024 Rapids Media Day. Club President Pádraig Smith and Head Coach Chris Armas were in attendance as well as players Keegan Rosenberry, Cole Bassett, Djordje Mihailović, Zack Steffen, and Omir Fernandez. Here’s what stood out.

Expectations are to make playoffs and compete for trophies.

“We want to win MLS Cup. To win MLS Cup, you have to be in the playoffs,” Smith said in response to the first question of the day. “We want to perform in front of our supporters. We know what the destination is. By de facto, (being in the playoffs) because the minimum.”

Armas added that if there’s a trophy out there, he wants to go for it. Everyone at the club, including the new faces, have made it clear: Last year was not good enough. Every new player coming in have a hunger to prove something. More on that later.

But this club clearly wants to be excellent at home, make the playoffs, get home playoff game(s), and compete for a second major trophy.

The coaching staff is being finalized.

“We haven’t finalized either one of those (the coaching staff or captain). Not the captaincy, not yet. That will be in the next days. We’re wrapping up our staff currently. We’ve added Ian Sarachan. Hopefully in the next days, we’ll finalize and make that announcement,” Armas told Burgundy Wave.

Sarachan played four years at Illinois-Chicago and then spent some time as an agent. He has youth coaching experience with the LA Galaxy and U.S. Soccer. He is the son of long time Bruce Arena assistant, Dave Sarachan.

Robin Fraser’s coaching staff signed extensions this time last year through 2025. The specifics of any buyouts is not publicly known.

The captain has not been appointed. There’s a leadership gap to fill.

Armas stated that the captain has not been picked yet. With Jack Price, Diego Rubio, and William Yarbrough gone, the locker room’s much quieter. It’s a valid question who the vocal leaders will be on this team.

“(Last year) did provide an opportunity for me, Keegan, Maxsø to step up into a leadership role. It was us three. It helped me grow. In a vocal sense, somebody had to take over. The three of us did. Now you add new faces that can help with that. We both have to step up into a bigger role this year,” Bassett said.

“I’ve always been a lead by example type first. I’m excited for the challenge to take on more of a vocal role. I don’t feel pressure to change who I am. Even the new editions at the club are going to energize players to speak up in a different way. Guys might feel it’s a clean slate. We can figure that out,” said Rosenberry.

Burgundy Wave believes one of Rosenberry, Bassett, Maxsø, or Connor Ronan will be named captain. Rosenberry is currently the oldest player on the team, having just turned 30.

Three drafted players have joined for preseason. Depth is there.

Smith confirmed that Duke midfielder Wayne Frederick and Washington center back Nate Jones have joined the club for preseason.

“If you look at Wayne and Kamani, two young guys, who we think project at the highest levels. But that takes time,” said Smith.

Burgundy Wave understands that means they are forgoing further college eligibility. They can sign NEXT Pro deals should they not be ready for MLS. Colorado will retain their MLS rights for two years. Maryland forward Kamani Stewart-Baynes already has a guaranteed contract for 2024.

“Nate Jones, I knew he was big. But when he walked into the locker room the other day and you see him in context with the other players, that kid’s a beast. It’s always exciting anytime you can find a left footed center back with those kinds of physical profiles. We’re excited to see all three of those in preseason.”

Jones and Frederick signing first team deals would bring the current roster to 29 players, not counting Sam Vines.

Excitement was the word of the day.

We’ll let the players and staff speak for themselves.

Smith: “I’ve never seen anything like it. This is my 10th preseason at this club. The buzz in the locker room is palpable.”

Armas: “The players I can tell you, if you just look around the locker room, there’s been additions. In my opinion, there’s been additions by subtraction in certain spots. They all feel like they left too much on the table last year.”

Fernandez: “I told Chris at the start of the (free agency) process, ‘I need to go somewhere I’m going to win. I need to have that mentality.’ He said ‘that’s what I’m going to bring here.’ It made the decision easy for me,” said Fernandez.

Rosenberry: “It’s exciting for all of us. We met as a group for the first time just the other day. Some of the new staff and new players got up in front of the room and introduced themselves. Every single person used the word excited. I echo that. We’re chomping at the bit. There’s an energy that wasn’t there at times last year.”

Rosenberry later joked in an answer to a question that he was beating a dead horse in saying reuniting with Steffen was exciting.

Bassett: “We’ve lost a lot of friends over this offseason. At the same time, it brings new faces and that brings excitement. It’s one of the big reasons why I decided to stay and sign on longer. We’ve brought in a couple (of players) so far who get me excited to play with.”

Armas: “Keegan said yesterday ‘Chris, there’s a real good energy going on right now.’ It is a hunger to get going.”

Something To Prove FC is real.

The Rapids Community has come up with the phrase Something To Prove FC, perhaps the next iteration of Distressed Assets FC.

The club has to prove they’re not the poverty franchise of MLS. Armas has to prove he’s better than his last four jobs going back to the way things ended in New York. Those who were here last year need to prove 2023 is in the past.

Mihailović, Steffen, and possible Sam Vines are coming back from Europe with their USMNT stock down. Are they coming back to a soft landing in MLS just to get playing time? Or are they here to prove their inability to stick in Europe is not who they are? Are they here to prove they still got it and thus prove Colorado can win?

“We’re bubble players. The best part of it is we’re on one team. That means Gregg (Berhalter) has to watch us all. If we’re all enjoying success, we’re all getting called in. We all have points to prove. It’s a big opportunity with tournaments coming up, especially Copa America and Olympics for myself. We’ve got a point to prove,” said Bassett.

Mihailović and Steffen shared the podium for several minutes, exchanging looks of excitement and smiles throughout. Something To Prove FC might not just be a social media joke. It might be real. These guys have something to prove individually, but they seem happy and motivated to do it together.

Omir Fernandez started the wave this offseason.

Fernandez signed with the club the week before Christmas. This was the first of several dominos to fall. It appeared Fernandez was sold on reuniting with his former RBNY manager Chris Armas. He’s now seen the fruits of the rebuild realized that also sold him.

“I need to go somewhere I’m going to win. I need to have that mentality. He said ‘that’s what I’m going to bring here.’ It made the decision easy for me,” said Fernandez.

“They told me ‘we’re going to bring players that similar to you are going to play with the ball and be intense.’ They’re going to have that winner mentality. As much as I was the first player to sign, I was aware of the types of players they were going to bring. It made me excited,” he added.

He’s going to be a big part of the attack. A front four of Rafael Navarro, him, Bassett, and Mihailović should be misserable to play against, with or without the ball.

The 24-year-old said it best: “I just want to bring chaos in the attack.”

He was the first big move of the offseason. More are coming.

Steffen’s knee is ready to go.

Steffen had knee surgery in the summer to repair long standing wear and tear on his knee. The initial timeline was 3-4 months. That caused him to miss the start of the European season and limit his options to go out on loan from Manchester City.

“The knee’s good. I feel good. I feel fit. I feel strong. Just have to get used to the altitude. I’m excited and ready to go,” Steffen told Burgundy Wave.

“Most importantly, he’s been a part of winning cultures. He’s a leader. He’s exactly what a Rapids player represents. Talented, but also a good character guy,” Armas said of Steffen.

The club are thrilled to have him on a free transfer, especially with him not being limited to start preseason. Expect him to compete for and win the starting spot. There’s been no indication the club will be getting rid of Marko Ilić.

Miguel Navarro was not able to make it. Coincidence?

Miguel Navarro was originally scheduled to be at Media Day alongside Omir Fernandez. Just minutes before the first interviews, Burgundy Wave was told he was unable to make it. Saturday morning, news broke (first by The Denver Post) that the club is on the verge of re-signing Sam Vines, bringing him back from Royal Antwerp.

Navarro spent four years with Chicago Fire. He should know how to drive in snow by now. Did he have car trouble? Did his flight get canceled and is he still trying to get to Denver? Or did he see the Vines report, call his agent, and ask for a trade?

Navarro is trying to make it to Copa America with Venezuela. He should have resale value, even though he hasn’t played a game in Burgundy and Blue. To say nothing of the Rapids Math argument that they basically got Navarro for free.

Chris Armas wants MLS teams in USOC.

There’s uncertainty around the 2024 iteration of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and whether MLS first teams or NEXT Pro teams will be in the competition in the future. Armas did not mince words, having won it four times as a player:

“It should be up to every club. They should put who they want out there to go after it as they see fit. Often times, if you said nothing, you’d generally see other players get opportunities. Every club should do it as they wish, in my opinion. There’s certain teams in the league who that might be they’re one realistic chance at a trophy. Why should someone tell them otherwise?”

Last Word: RIP Joan

Minutes before this article was published, Burgundy Wave learned of the passing of Rapids super fan Joan Dobrzynski. Shortly there after, the club confirmed it. Joan was an icon in the Rapids Community and in the past had attended every first team home practice for years. Rest in peace. Rest in power. May your memory be a blessing. Our thoughts are with the Dobryznski family. Learn more about Joan’s story here.

Photo Credit: John Babiak

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