Rapids Coach Mastroeni: 'Motivation To Get Recognized A Driving Force'

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (CBS4) - Before the start of the season, not many soccer fans expected the Colorado Rapids would be one of the best teams in the MLS.

"We were definitely dark horses to the pundits out there," said Coach Pablo Mastroeni on Xfinity Monday Live. "The organization who has committed a lot of energy this year in making sure we turn things around. We believe in ourselves, the players believe in ourselves and I think the results are validating that.

The Rapids currently have a 7-3-2 record, which includes wins in all six of their home games in Commerce City. They have 24 points (1st in the league) and their goal differential is +6 (2nd in the league).

"We feel like we have a good enough team to get in the playoffs. We have a good enough team to win the whole thing. Now there's a lot of work to go on between now and then, but I think the mentality is great in the locker room, great in the organization, great on the field and when you have everyone pulling in the same direction there's a lot of good things that will happen," Mastroeni said.

Mastroeni says lots of factors are motivating the team this year, but one in particular is a low amount of national coverage in the MLS the Rapids get compared to some of the higher profile teams in cities like New York and Los Angeles.

"We have to go out every day and prove ourselves just to get a little bit," he said. "I think that motivation to be recognized, to be valued ... is a huge driving force for us."

Those MLS teams in bigger cities traditionally have more star power than teams like the Rapids, but this year Colorado is bringing in some of its own big names. Two new players this season in particular are making headlines:

Veteran midfielder Jermaine Jones joined the team in April and has made an immediate impact in the locker room and on the field.

U.S. national goalie and Premiere Leaguer Tim Howard will start playing for the Rapids this summer.

"These guys made it to the level they did because of the little things they do every day," Mastroeni said.

A former star player himself, Mastroeni is now in his third year as a coach and he says he's still working to improve.

"This offseason I took a couple of trips, one of them to Europe and I spent some time with some quality coaches there and collaborated with some coaches within the league," Mastoeni said. "I feel like my growth is really allowing me to really express myself and more importantly get the type of football on the field that I think we need to be successful."

He also said his family has been very supportive.

"That's the most important thing, because if you don't have that it's an impossible career," he said.