Lack of Respect for Rapids Just Fine with Burch

By Brian "Soundbite" Jennings 

Your Colorado Rapids team is shaping up to be one of the best kept secrets in MLS, at least until the Tim Howard media circus comes calling in July, and defender Marc Burch for one is fine with that. “I’m glad we’re still an underdog and people aren’t respecting us yet,” says Burch with a bit of a chip-on-the-shoulder shrug.

   

“I’ve said it to a few guys and it’s this team feels different,” Marc tells The Voice of C38, admitting that in past years the recent set of results probably wouldn’t have been so positive as early 2016 has produced.  “We would have just tied games at home against LA, we would’ve given up another late goal at DC, but we found a way to fight through.  Perseverance is one of the things we’ve been talking about all year.  I don’t think there’s anyone in this locker room that isn’t on the same page about where we want this team to be and how good we can actually be.” 

It’s easy to see early on what all the personnel changes have brought to Commerce City this year.  Burch explains what those-in-the-know like C38 fans are privy to before the rest of MLS takes notice.  “We’ve been outpassing teams and we’re playing better soccer.  We’re really dynamic going forward and our defense is still just as good as it’s been.  I think us pressing high up the field it’s just that mentality.”

  

It’s obvious to hear the excitement in Burch’s voice as he explains the weapons he has as teammates up the field from his left-back vantage point.  “What’s great about our team is: Marco Pappa-complete game-changer, (Shkelzin) Gashi is a game-changer, (Kevin) Doyle can hold the ball up and let us play, I think (Dillon) Powers is having an amazing year-so really trusting in every single teammate to do what you expect them to do and then them to be able to complete it has really been awesome.”

  

“You know when you feed a guy in midfield he can handle pressure and turn out.  You know when Gashi attracts two people you can make a run and be wide open.  We’ve got guys who can stretch the field-all it takes is one play and (Dominique Badji’s) out-so we have the right weapons to be really, really good this year. We have at least 14-15 guys who can play every single game and I love that.” 

“We haven’t even come close to having all our players on the field, and I don’t know if I’ll be a part of it, but I’ll be a part of the 18 and I’ll be a part of the 28 guys that are here hoping we do as well as we can.”