COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – With a league-low 14 goals scored in 18 games, the Colorado Rapids’ attack has left much to be desired thus far this season. Morale has improved, however, following the Rapids’ 2-1 win over Vancouver on Independence Day.
“Everyone on the team gained confidence from our last game,” Rapids striker Luis Solignac told MLSsoccer.com. “We have to continue improving and bring that confidence with us but not get off track.”
Playing on the left wing, Solignac was an integral part of an attack which head coach Pablo Mastroeni praised as a “three-headed dragon,” as the Rapids rolled out a new-look 4-3-3 formation against the Whitecaps with positive results.
“I think every guy understands his role we give to them and what we are trying to do,” said Rapids director of soccer Claudio Lopez, who has assisted in coaching the team’s attackers this season. “Luis has been doing a good job playing on the right side. Kevin [Doyle] has been putting in a lot of hard work during the games; fighting for every ball with the defenders and creating space for the other guys. Vicente [Sanchez] is just a good player, he understands what is going on during the game and is doing good things for the team.
“You can see a couple of different things with the formation but at the end of the day, when you have guys opening the play and creating space for their teammates, that’s what's good.”
Like many of his teammates, Solignac has had to step out of his comfort zone in order to make a contribution within the system.
“My real position is the No. 9 [central striker], but I told Pablo that I want to be in the team and I want to play. We had a need in the team so I’m trying to play [on the wing] and do my best,” he explained. “It’s not just the formation but the type of play. We are pressing high because Pablo told us to. On the wing I also have more contact with the ball, so when you start putting together two or three passes well, you start having confidence in yourself.”
The 24-year-old Argentine newcomer provided the assist on Sanchez’s opening goal last weekend. But having not scored himself in eight MLS matches (seven starts), Solignac remains goal-hungry.
“I don’t feel pressure but I really want to score goals,” he said. “I’m still thinking like a No. 9, so I have to score goals to help the team to win.”
For the time being, the Rapids’ attack appears to have found the spark that it has been seeking for the majority of the season.
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“You need to assemble everything. Sometimes that takes a lot of time but we’re doing great work,” Lopez explained. “Sometimes you can train, train and train and nothing happens. When you put the ball in the back of the net, something opens up and you have confidence again.”
Colorado now hope to build on their momentum when they host Rocky Mountain Cup rivals Real Salt Lake on Saturday (9 pm ET, MLS LIVE).
“We need to continue fighting, just like we did against Vancouver,” emphasized Solignac. “It’s a derby, so it’s going to be tough. It’s going to be the game that everyone is expecting.”
Added Lopez: “We expect the same commitment as last weekend. We want to see the guys pressuring from the first minute and show they want to win the game.”
