In the wake of earlier this week, Rapids interim general manager with the public Thursday that the new hire must have a philosophy that matches that of the club’s front office.
Part of that philosophy, Smith says, is a needed change in the team’s style of play– from defensive-minded to an aggressive attack on offense.
“We’re looking for a coach that fits with our vision,” Smith said. “We’re not just looking for a big name, we’re not just looking for someone who’s an easy fix or a quick solution. We’re looking for the right person to execute to ”
Colorado’s bread-and-butter, for years, has been on the back line. It was their stifling defense in 2016 that led the club to a second place finish in the Western Conference at 15-6-13 and a run to the conference finals. The club’s first and only championship in 2010 was led — and captained — by a defensive-minded Mastroeni, who was then still a player.
But as Smith (and interim chief business officer Wayne Brant) touched on in an and pointed out in Thursday’s Q&A session, soccer is a results-driven business.
The results haven’t come in 2017.
At 6-12-4, the Rapids are second-to-last in the Western Conference. They’re 10 points out of the playoff hunt with 12 games left in the season. The old “Rapids Way,” or identity, no longer cut it. Smith said that the decision to part ways with Mastroeni was his, with the backing of ownership.
The main objective for Colorado moving forward is bridging the “disconnect” between the vision of the club and the product on the field, Smith added. An international search of a new head coach will be conducted. Former assistant Steve Cooke is interim coach for the time being and Smith says he’s “absolutely” a candidate for the permanent job.
The person who ultimately becomes coach, Smith emphasized, will share a similar identity of the Rapids’ future with the front office.
“If a club allows the coach to dictate what a philosophy is, there is no continuity there,” Smith said.
Saturday against D.C. United is the beginning of the era without Mastroeni. Smith hopes the events of this week fires up the players moving forward.
“This is always an interesting time, the first game after a coaching change like this,” Smith said. “Pablo (Mastroeni) has had to bite the bullet here, for the failures of the club over this season, but ultimately we all have to take a hard look at ourselves in terms of our responsibilities for this.”
