Rapids Class VI

VI Questions with Coach Clavijo: NE Road Win

The Rapids came away from their two game road trip with an undeserved loss and a fortunate victory, proving soccer really is a funny ole game! Coach Clavijo has been kind enough to answer VI questions for Rapids fans.

I. On every Rapids fan's mind, Christian Gomez was holding his knee right before he left the game. How serious is his injury?

Christian is a big part of the Team and I didn’t want to risk him in the second half, the injury is not that bad, just a bad bruise on his right knee.

II. The team looked much more conservative, playing a significant amount more of long ball and not pushing the attack as strongly as the first two games. Did the Kansas City game play a role in that?

Not really, I believe that the field (turf) had a lot to do with it, also there was a very good team playing again us.

The biggest concern going to that game was not to allowed them to get into any rhythm and force New England to defend; I thought we did a very good job in the 1st half but struggle in the second.

III. The team ended a seven game winless streak in New England, the team you coached before coming to Colorado. Do you get any gratification from beating your former employer?

The first win in that Stadium (Gillette) have my name on it, many of the players that are the main guys were drafted by me, and I have the greatest respect for the ownership and Sunil Gulati ( President of Kraft Soccer)

Just a great win for our player’s confidence

IV. The second half play seemed much more tentative and possession suffered. Was this solely due to the absence of Christian Gomez or was did you implement a tactical change at half time?

Not only Christian is a very good player that help us in transition and possession but also someone that other team pay lots of attention, not having him there, we suffer and also going one goal up, force the Revs to push forward even more.

V. Mehdi Ballouchy hasn't been listed on the Injury Reports, didn't appear in the Rapids only Reserve match, and has yet to even appear on the bench for the Rapids. What is Ballouchy's situation?

Mehdi Ballouchy is coming back from a pulled hamstring, which kept him out for a big part of the pre-season; he is healthy right now and is fighting like everyone else to get back into the lineup.

VI. Altitude's game feed came from the Rev's telecast, and Greg Lalas continued to echo something we continue to hear around the league, even from fans at home, that the Rapids need a proven goal scoring striker. We're on top of the Western Conference and have gotten goals from just about everyone on the team. In your opinion, what would the team have to achieve to shed off last season and get the most cynical pundits to finally see that the Rapids have built a contender?

Don’t believe everything the commentator talk in the telecast, they don’t have most of the information and to be honest sometimes they have no idea of what they are talking about. In regards to needs, I was one of the people that from the beginning mention the need of a proven goal scorer, but when the opportunities to grab Christian presented itself, we jump on it, doing that limited the opportunities or players in that position to go after.

I also believe that right now we should keep improving on what we have and see what else is needed later around.

Thanks again Coach, we'll see you at DSG Park as we cheer you and the team on to victory over expansion team San Jose.

Posted by mark at April 14, 2008 12:13 PM