Real Salt Lake have already scored one victory over the Colorado Rapids this season, and head coach Freddy Juarez believes his team has what it takes to maintain a winning run over their Rocky Mountain Cup rivals when they meet again Saturday (9 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in the US, on DAZN in Canada).
Speaking to reporters Thursday ahead of his team's return to regular-season play at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Juarez sounded confident that they'll show the same qualities that have resulted in four straight wins over Colorado, most recently a 2-0 result to open the MLS is Back Tournament group stage.
“I honestly feel that we have a better team,” Juarez said, with one caveat. “Having a better team doesn’t mean you’re going to win the game.”
Going by recent history, though, RSL are justified in feeling confident. Not only have they rattled off four straight wins against the Rapids, they've lifted the Rocky Mountain Cup – awarded to the winner of the regular-season series between the two teams – in four consecutive seasons and 11 of the last 13.
RSL's continued success against Colorado is one of the few dampers on an otherwise feel-good turnaround from 2019, when interim coach Conor Casey and head coach Robin Fraser flipped one of the worst teams in the West into playoff contenders. The Rapids then won their first two games of 2020, and though they earned only one point at MLS is Back, Juarez still sees quality in Fraser's group.
“I see a tough team, workmanlike, with some things that they do very well – set pieces, guys that if you throw the ball in the box, they’re dominant ... and they’re very good in transition,” Juarez said. “I think if we match that, I believe we’re a better team in other phases of the game.
“Again, what I believe doesn’t [matter], we have to show it on the field. I thought we showed that against them in Orlando, but every game is different. I truly believe we’re a team with more continuity in the roster, a playoff team in the last two years that has had experience that is hopefully what tips the scale in our favor.”
Fraser noted after the defeat in Orlando that his team didn't put their best foot forward, while winger Jonathan Lewis called it their worst performance to date under their new head coach. Juarez said he's heard that talk, and perhaps playing some mind games, expected much better from his upcoming opponents.
“They did a lot of talking after they played our game [in Orlando],” Juarez said “They talked about that wasn’t them, we didn’t get the best of them, so I expect a very, very competitive team from Robin that’s going to come out trying to redeem themselves from the last couple games. ”
