COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – The offensive woes of the Colorado Rapids have been both very frustrating and a little bit confounding thus far in 2015. They're tied for a Western Conference low in goals scored (nine) despite being one of the top five MLS clubs in chances created with 136 shots (3rd) and 46 shots on goal (5th). It's all added up to a 1-2-7 record (10 points) and a spot at the bottom of the Western Conference.
But now, reinforcements have begun to arrive.
Argentinian striker Luis Solignac finally joined the club in training this week, and the Rapids coaching staff is hoping that the club’s newest signing can help turn those chances into goals.
“Hopefully what he brings is an uncanny knack to finish,” Rapids head coach Pablo Mastroeni told reporters this week. “He makes good runs and he holds the ball well. He’s well versed in his understanding of the game and with that you get a guy who comes into the group and understands what we’re trying to achieve.”
The 24-year-old, who grew up just outside Bueno Aires, expressed excitement to play in MLS after spending time in Europe at IFK Mariehamn in Finland, where he tallied 23 goals in 47 matches.
“For us in South America, it’s a dream to come here or to Europe,” Solignac said. “MLS is growing really fast. Within the next year it will be really big. I want to be here when it happens.”
After a few days of training, the level of play in the States continues to impress.
“What I’ve seen in the first training is that the play is a lot faster,” he continued. “The speed and how fast the players play is in their mind, they find you really quickly. It’s what most impressed me.”
Having scored two goals in 10 appearances with Argentinian Primera Division side Nueva Chicago this season, Solignac joins teammates Lucas Pittinari and Juan Ramirez as the third Argentine recruited by Rapids director of soccer Claudio Lopez in 2015.
“In Argentina you grow up with a soccer ball,” Lopez said. “The culture in Argentina says that if you can play well here, you can play in any part of the world.
“[Solignac] knows a lot about this league and that he wanted to come here. Hopefully he brings a little more experience and is a real No. 9. We already have some explosive guys so maybe he can stay in the box and open up some space there. Maybe he’s a little luckier with his finishing.”
While certain adjustments to a new league, locale and culture are an inevitability, Solignac suits Mastroeni's system. The second-year coach believes that good defense and positioning can lead to strong offensive opportunities on the counterattack.
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“Back in the day it was rare to have a forward that defended. Nowadays, even guys like [Lionel] Messi and [Zlatan] Ibrahimović defend. Good defensive positions lead to good offensive positions. When you win the ball, you’re not going to be marked,” Mastroeni explained. “It’s something we looked at when we were scouting [Solignac] and it’s why we decided he’s a good fit.”
Not just a good fit, but eager to make an immediate impact. Almost as soon as landing in Colorado, Solignac asked to be thrown to the fire in the Rapids’ preperations for Saturday night’s match against Sporting KC (8:30 pm ET; MLS LIVE).
“I’m ready to play,” he said. “They asked if I wanted to start out slow and I just said ‘No, put me in training’, because I came here to play.”
“From a fitness perspective, he’s as sharp as anyone,” added Mastroeni. “He’s definitely available for selection [Saturday].”
