Commerce City, Colo. - Following two games over four days last week, the players were given some time off before returning to training this weekend.
"We have to juggle many needs," Oscar Pareja said before the three day break. "First we have to recover some of the guys that have been injured, and we have to recover some of those that have been accumulating a lot of playing time. But at the same time, we have a group that needs to keep going and training. So we're trying to manage all these things, but what we have to do is get the guys healthy."
The team comes off back-to-back wins over Montreal in league play and the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the 3rd Round U.S. Open Cup match.
"We had the opportunity to play some players that needed playing time," Pareja said following the Tampa game. "At the same time we had others resting and recovering. We tried to manage the roster and fortunately we got a good performance and a good result."
The Rapids were one of eight MLS teams that advanced to the 4th Round of the 99-year-old tournament. However eight other MLS teams were knocked out of the tournament with losses to lower division teams. The LA Galaxy, Real Salt Lake, Portland, Columbus, Houston, Dallas, New England, and Chicago have all been eliminated.
"I'm not surprised," Pareja said of the upsets. "I think the competition is high. When these teams play against teams in our League, they bring a lot of intensity and energy, and make it difficult."
Up next for the Rapids is Tuesday's Open Cup 4th Round meeting against Sporting KC at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. The team will train Saturday, Sunday and Monday at Dick's Sporting Goods Park before departing for Kansas City.
