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

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%