Hey, , how does that humble pie taste?
Back in January, ESPN’s soccer analyst went on MLS soccer podcast Extra Time Radio and and that he had “zero idea where the leadership is there.”
The statements didn’t seem outlandish at the time, but this week the Supporters’ Shield-leading Rapids (7-2-3, 24 points) ascended to the .
Twellman on Monday and tried to explain the team’s surprising turnaround.
“I watch the games every weekend and I’ve got one eye covered, looking at it thinking, ‘how did this happen? How quickly did this just change?’ ” Twellman said.
Twellman pointed to Colorado’s history of being defensively sound under coach Pablo Mastroeni and a number of offseason additions, most notably, U.S. national team midfielder Jermaine Jones.
“Is it the effect of Jermaine Jones? You can’t say, ‘It’s not,’ ” Twellman said. “Because now this is the second team he goes into and the mentality completely changes. They’re unbeaten in their last seven.”
Jones in 2014 joined a middling New England Revolution team and carried them to the MLS Cup Final.
Twellman also pointed to the additions of wingers Shkelzen Gashi and Marco Pappa and defensive midfielder Micheal Azira, who he said “could arguably be the best pickup of the year.”
For a team that finished last in the Western Conference a year ago and had a roster in disarray in January, it’s easy to see why the analysts are befuddled.
“They have basically punched their (playoff) ticket at this point,” MLS analyst Matt Doyle added. “They are the surprise team this year.”
After the Rapids’ 1-1 road draw at Columbus on Saturday, Rapids striker Kevin Doyle was asked if Colorado is for real this year. He said the team was full of confidence and pointed to the offseason additions.
“We don’t want to get carried away with ourselves, quietly keep ourselves under the radar,” Kevin Doyle said. “Hopefully, everyone dismisses us for another six months and we can finish where we are now. Who cares what people think?”
Daniel Boniface: 303-954-1104, dboniface@denverpost.com or @danielboniface
