The Colorado Rapids are saying there's a chance.
A chance in the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs, that is. The odds are still stacked against them, with four other teams vying for one spot in the Western Conference, but after a 3-0 win over FC Dallas on Sunday at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, they have not been eliminated from postseason contention and have a shot to do the improbable on Decision Day presented by AT&T.
The Rapids have had three head coaches this season. Original manager Anthony Hudson led the squad to a bleak start, posting a 0-7-2 record before he was dismissed in late-April. At that point, any talk of playoffs in 2019 seemed impossible, but interim boss Conor Casey started the turnaround, leading Colorado to a 7-7-4 record, before Robin Fraser was hired in late-August. The new coach has racked up a stellar 5-1-0 mark to begin his tenure with the club.
"I liked the team before I got here, and I told Padraig [Smith, Colorado's GM] at the end of our very first practice, 'I really like this team,'" Fraser told reporters after Sunday's latest win. "They're good guys and they're talented, they work hard and they listen, try to do whatever is asked of them."
And while the Rapids haven't openly talked about a run to the playoffs, Fraser admitted that was something in mind when he came to the club.
"Did I think we’d be in a spot to talk about the playoffs?" he said. "It was in the back of my mind, it’s always been in the back of my mind because if you look at what this team’s record has been relative to the rest of the league since May, it’s pretty impressive. I know that no one thought that we had a chance so really for us to go into the last weekend and have a chance is pretty exciting for us."
Fraser, who previously served as head coach of Chivas USA from 2011-12, is pleased with the work put in by his squad so far.
"It's truly fun to come into training every day, because they put on their boots and they go to work and they really try to be as good as they can be every single day. I think when that's your approach good things can happen for you, and good things are happening now," he said.
And while the Rapids remain a long shot for the playoffs this year, Fraser said the process to improve remains forefront for now: "This is not only about us getting results, it's about us getting better every game, every minute."
But with the Rapids taking on Supporters' Shield champion LAFC on Decision Day with a shot at the postseason, Fraser says his team's concern will be to beat LAFC – something they've done already this year – and see how results elsewhere play out.
"We want to go in and play well and obviously get a good result there and some things have to go our way and we can't control any of that," he said. "All we can control is our effort and our performance. I know our effort will be right, I don't question the effort, if our performance is right, then hopefully we get a result."
