COMMERCE CITY — If the Colorado Rapids are to make the playoffs, it will come down to three key traits Rapids head coach Robin Fraser has brought up time and time again during the 2022 campaign.
They might even be called ‘Fraser-ism’s’: concentration, consistency and composure.
It will take a healthy dose of all three traits as the Rapids will look to start a late-season playoff push against a confounding LA Galaxy side at 7 p.m. Saturday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
“Honestly, it comes down to concentration,” Fraser said on Friday when asked about conceding soft goals as of late. ” … Obviously for us to get to where we need to get to, we need to avoid the mental lapses in the back and and the front. When we have our opportunities we have to score ’em, when we defend we have to be able to defend well.”
The Rapids (5-8-6, 21 points) have not won since May and are winless in their last six, but are only six points behind the playoff line and have had two come-from-behind ties in the last two games. Additionally, the Rapids are unbeaten in their last seven outings against the Galaxy and are 5-0-2 since 2018. The Galaxy (8-8-3, 27 points) have won once in their last six games across all competitions and have given up at least three goals in three straight games.
“You watch the training and it was bizarre how spirited it was,” he said. “Guys didn’t look tired, they looked sharp, they looked hungry. Given the week, the heat and that whole thing, they looked really excited and are ready for Saturday.”
One player who might make an impact is 19-year-old Canadian midfielder Ralph Priso, who arrived from Toronto FC on Tuesday as part of the Mark-Anthony Kaye trade.
Fraser spent time with the teenager while coaching north of the border, and described Priso following Wednesday’s game as “a tidy player with a strong first touch … and has a smooth, silky left foot.”
Priso spoke to The Post on Friday for his first public media availability since arriving in Colorado.
“It’s been good, the transition has been pretty smooth,” Priso said. “They’re taking care of me. While I haven’t trained too much, it’s been good so far and I just have to get used to the new way of training, new teammates and tendencies.”
He has already started taking notes on Colorado’s central midfield tactics and movement to make sure he’s ready for whenever his club debut occurs.
“It’s just observing and watching how they move defensively and how they move when we have the ball. It’s about picking up different ideas and just trying to implement it to my game so when I get my chance, I go out there and know what I’m doing to not put the team in a bad spot. … Now I just have to pick them up and apply them.”
Trusty signs for Birmingham City
Former Rapids defender Auston Trusty signed a one-year loan agreement from Arsenal to play for Birmingham City in the English Football League Championship on Friday.
“I’m excited for the challenges ahead, everything above and am just really, really happy to be here,” in his first interview. “… The intensity is gonna be tough and guys will wanna play. … You want to be in that environment.”
Bassett could be loaned within the Netherlands
On Friday, Dutch magazine Voetbal International that Feyenoord are in talks of loaning Littleton native Cole Bassett to fellow Eredivise side Fortuna Sittard. Bassett, a Rapids Homegrown Player, is already on loan as he signed an 18-month deal in January with Feyenoord which has a purchase option. Bassett played seven times last season for the Dutch giants and the Rapids would have to agree to the move as the club still has his rights.
