MLS

Colorado Rapids v Minnesota United: Loons 'start from zero' in every game – Ramsay

By Sports Desk May 24, 2024

Eric Ramsay urges Minnesota United not to get ahead of themselves despite a high-flying start to the season as they prepare to travel to Colorado Rapids.

Minnesota have lost just two games in the MLS this season and are currently second in the Western Conference after a run of five without defeat.

However, Ramsay is keen to make sure his side do not get complacent despite their good run of form.

"I'm trying not to read too much into the table because it changes so quickly," he said. 

"You can feel as we are at the moment that you're on a really good run, but when you look at the table, and you find you haven't really got much separation, although you feel like you've had five games when you've had to grind out good performances and results.

"I've used the phrase with the players a few times that we're starting from zero every game. Our form that we go into games with is meaningless."

Colorado are just three points behind Minnesota in the table, sitting in sixth, having alternated between a win and a loss in their last six matches.

Head coach Chris Armas remains optimistic after their defeat to FC Cincinnati last weekend, saying: "We're on our way to becoming a really good team," he said.

"The results show that, the performances show that, the mentality of the team shows that. We've beaten some pretty good teams this year.

"We gave everything we had [in the defeat to FC Cincinnati] and fell a little short, but it makes us no less competitors or winners. We think we're better for [the loss]."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Colorado Rapids – Rafael Navarro

Navarro is the first Rapids player since Kei Kamara in 2019-20 to score in four consecutive regular-season matches. Only three players in the team’s history, most recently Omar Cummings in 2010, have scored in five straight league matches.

Minnesota United – Joseph Rosales

Rosales has recorded an assist in five consecutive regular-season matches for Minnesota United, the first player to do so in the team’s history. Rosales has totaled seven assists in those five games after recording just two assists in his first 53 MLS matches.

MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

The Rapids suffered a 5-3 loss to Real Salt Lake on Saturday, the club’s fifth defeat of the season. Colorado have bounced back following their first four losses of the season, winning the next match three times, and drawing once.

Minnesota earned a 2-1 win against the Rapids in their last visit to Colorado in March 2023 – it was their first road win against the Rapids in club history (D1 L5 prior).

Indeed, Minnesota have 24 points from their first 12 games this season (W7 D3 L2), six more than they have ever had at this stage of a season before. The Loons have won four of their last five matches (D1).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Colorado Rapids – 36.1%

Draw – 25.8%

Minnesota United – 38.1%

Related items

  • Significant progress: Ricketts says JFF has cleared up over JA$300 million in debt owed to Jamaican Government since 2017 Significant progress: Ricketts says JFF has cleared up over JA$300 million in debt owed to Jamaican Government since 2017

    President of the Jamaica Football Federation, Michael Ricketts, says the body has cleared over JA$300 million in debt they owed to the Jamaican Government since he took office for the first time seven years ago.

    Ricketts had defeated Stewart Stephenson to complete the JFF’s 2015-19 term after the death of then-president Captain Horace Burrell in 2017 before being re-elected for his first full term in 2019.

    “We have made significant progress as it relates to our fiscal management. So far, we are in a far better position now than when we were when we got into office,” Ricketts told Sportsmax.tv last week at the unveiling of the Reggae Boyz squad for their upcoming CONCACAF Nations League fixtures against Nicaragua and Honduras.

    “When we got into office I think we were indebted to the Government to the tune of over $400 million. When we took over, we we’re very intent on getting that figure down. We have cut that to $90 million and certainly, we are on track to make that $0 by the end of the year,” he added.

    Ricketts also noted that, for the first time in over a decade, the JFF has been issued a tax compliance certificate.

    When asked about the steps taken to achieve this fiscal improvement, Ricketts gave credit to the federations finance committee as well as General Secretary, Dennis Chung and Technical Committee Chairman, Rudolph Speid.

    “I must commend our finance committee. They’ve been very strong. We’ve gotten support, of course, from our parent organizations, more so FIFA, CONCACAF and CFU. We’ve had sponsors on board like Adidas who have given us major support both financially and from an equipment standpoint,” he said.

    “We have been doing very well. We have a Gen Sec in Dennis Chung who is an accountant. Rudolph Speid, our Technical Committee Chairman, is an accountant so these gentlemen have been very integral in the process of our fiscal management,” Ricketts added.

     

  • Kane fit to play for England in Nations League Kane fit to play for England in Nations League

    Bayern Munich confirmed Harry Kane did not suffer a serious injury against Eintracht Frankfurt and will be available for England in the international break.

    Kane, who has already netted 10 goals in nine appearances for Bayern in all competitions this season, was substituted in the 72nd minute of their 3-3 draw with a suspected thigh injury.

    The England captain was assessed by the Football Association's (FA) doctors on Monday, with the German side announcing no "structural injury" was found.

    Kane, who made his 100th appearance for England during their last match against Finland, will be available for the return leg in Helsinki, and their match against Greece at Wembley prior to that.

    While the striker has been given the all-clear for international action, Dayot Upamecano and Mathys Tel have both withdrawn from their respective France squads.

    Upamecano scored against Frankfurt but was subsequently taken off in the second half after also sustaining a thigh problem, while Tel is suffering with a shoulder injury.

  • 'We are lucky to have him' - Guardiola admits Ederson exit was close 'We are lucky to have him' - Guardiola admits Ederson exit was close

    Pep Guardiola admitted that Ederson came close to leaving Manchester City in the transfer window but stayed because a fee could not be agreed.

    The Brazilian was linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League in the off-season, with both Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad both reportedly interested in his signature.

    Since joining the club in June 2017, Ederson has kept 113 clean sheets in 257 Premier League appearances, more than any other goalkeeper in the competition since his debut.

    He has won 15 major trophies with City, including six Premier Leagues, two FA Cups and a Champions League title, as well as the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup.

    Ederson has played in all seven of City's Premier League matches so far this season, keeping just one clean sheet and conceding eight goals from an expected goals on target (xGoT) of 8.54.

    Guardiola is delighted that he was able to keep hold of Ederson, who continues to play a pivotal role in the team.

    "He is an important figure with our team," Guardiola told the club's website.

    "We are lucky to have him, and I hope he is happy. Eddy knows us really well and what we have to do.

    "He knew from day one that I didn't want him to leave. The truth is the offer didn't come. The real offer.

    "They make an offer but the keeper, who won four Premier Leagues in a row, he has a value and a price. Otherwise, he cannot leave.

    “If the offer did come, maybe he should not be here. This is the truth.

    "Ederson is so strong, but when he changed his mind, in one second he said he is here, and he is going to do his best."

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.