COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – Teams throughout MLS place a lot of faith in Designated Player signings like Steven Gerrard or Frank Lampard.
But despite the fanfare surrounding his former English Premier League opponents, Colorado Rapids own DP Kevin Doyle isn’t feeling any added pressure.
“Not really,” Doyle told MLSsoccer.com. “It’s good for the league to have big names like Gerrard, Lampard and [Robbie] Keane. I feel everyone [in Colorado] has made me feel settled.”
“It’s got to be a team first mentality here. The sum of the whole is greater than its parts,” said head coach Pablo Mastroeni. “I’m not asking anyone to put the team on their back for us. Eleven guys will always be stronger than two or three. I’m making everyone take ownership in this project.”
The fight for a playoff berth still remains the task at hand for Colorado, who remain in last place in the Western Conference but only nine points back in the log-jammed race for a postseason berth. A recent switch to a variation of a 4-3-3 formation has done the Rapids well, with two wins since its debut.
“It’s not a massive change or learning curve and we’ve gotten two wins which helps, obviously,” said Doyle, who has been featured as the center forward in the attack. “It’s more natural to me, being a No. 9; it is similar to systems I’ve played in the past. On paper it’s a 4-3-3, but during the game it’s flexible so guys can drop back and defend.
“I’ve enjoyed it, I think it works very well. It allows us to press teams higher up the pitch and build from the back, putting together some easy passes. It’s been more aggressive allowing us three [Doyle, Luis Solignac and Vicente Sanchez] to start closing down their back four and making teams go longer. Subsequently, we’re higher up the pitch to win the ball in more attacking positions.”
Of course, nothing can boost confidence quite like winning can.
“We were never massively low on confidence, we just weren’t getting our just rewards. Now that we’ve won a couple of games hopefully that will help us build momentum,” Doyle explained.
The Irishman is not only now comfortable and confident in Colorado, he’s now fit after spending his initial weeks with the team adjusting to the mile-high altitude. Doyle’s work was validated with his first MLS goal, helping Colorado seal the first of their past two wins against Vancouver.
“I’m fit now with three 90 minutes in the last week and a half which is the most I’ve played in a long time so it really feels like I’m part of the group,” he said.
Doyle is hoping the trend continues upward as Colorado takes to the road in another crucial Western Conference tilt against the Seattle Sounders.
“Two wins is still not good to us. We need to win a whole lot more to finish the second half of the season. We’re all in together.”
