COMMERCE CITY — There is a sense of urgency surrounding the Colorado Rapids. After back-to-back disappointing seasons, changing the trajectory of a foundering franchise is job No. 1.
Heading into the Rapids’ home opener Saturday, vice president of soccer operations Paul Bravo stated clear goals for the 2016 season and addressed whether his job and coach Pablo Mastroeni’s job are on the line after winning just 17 of the past 69 games in Major League Soccer.
“Getting back to the playoffs is just one (goal),” Bravo said this week. “Delivering a home playoff game for our fan base is another important piece.”
Bravo is off to a promising start, having — though Jones can’t play before April 16 because of a six-match suspension. Bravo also acquired and playmaker Marco Pappa. On paper, Colorado looks like a team that can compete in a tough Western Conference.
But success this season will rely on turning around an abysmal home record (a league-worst 5-7-5 in 2015) that left Rapids president Tim Hinchey “absolutely angry.” It also left Colorado with the lowest home attendance in MLS. Bravo acknowledged that midway through last season, he realized the Rapids had “lost our way on prioritizing our home games.”
Righting the ship will not be easy, as Colorado opens its home schedule against the Los Angeles Galaxy, whose star-studded roster includes former league MVP Robbie Keane, U.S. international Gyasi Zardes, England internationals Steven Gerrard and Ashley Cole and Dutch international Nigel de Jong. Colorado will catch one break: Mexican star Giovani dos Santos won’t play in Saturday’s match because of an injury.
“The biggest motivation here is, it’s our home opener,” Mastroeni said this week. “This is one of the most exciting games of the year. The motivation comes intrinsically.”
Mastroeni said last week this was . Bravo said for a coach entering his third season with much to prove, he understood the sentiment.
“We’re not in a position this year where we can have statistical wins,” Bravo said. “The only statistical win that is important to us is the result.”
With a roster that has been stocked with talent — and a report that — Mastroeni must prove he can win now. But with Gashi and Pappa still trying to find their fitness and Jones several weeks from his Rapids’ debut, Mastroeni’s leash could be long.
“It really would be irresponsible for me to put a time frame on it or to label it a ‘hot seat’ at this point,” Bravo said.
Bravo engineered the Rapids’ 2010 MLS Cup-winning roster, but the franchise has appeared in only one playoff game in the past four seasons — a loss in Seattle.
While Bravo said his job encompasses much more than just first-team results, he knows the pressure is on to succeed in 2016.
“I feel I’m on the hot seat every season, every minute of every day. That’s just the way I live in this job. I take nothing for granted,” Bravo said. “Tomorrow could be the last day. That’s just the reality of it.”
Daniel Boniface: 303-954-1104, dboniface@denverpost.com or @danielboniface
