Jeff Larentowicz in 2011. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)
It’s perhaps cosmologically appropriate that the first game the Rapids play without Pablo Mastroeni in more than 11 years comes against another former mainstay in Jeff Larentowicz.
Mastroeni is no longer on the Rapids roster after his trade to the L.A. Galaxy over the weekend (the trade went down Friday, before Colorado hosted San Jose, but it wasn’t made official until later).
And on Wednesday, the Rapids move on — against the Fire in Chicago. It’ll be their first game against Larentowicz since his equally sudden trade out of Colorado in the offseason.
“In this sport, you’re forced to move on or get left behind,” Larentowicz said this week by phone from Chicago.
“I’m the same guy in a different shirt, in a different city,” he said. “But it’s tough to go through those situations.”
Larentowicz played in 103 MLS games for the Rapids in his three-year stint from 2010-12, including a key role in Colorado’s run to a 2010 MLS Cup title. He also led the team (as a defensive midfielder, no less) in scoring with seven goals in 2011.
Jeff Larentowicz (20) controls the midfield in Chicago’s game against Chivas on March 24. (Nam Y. Huh, The Associated Press)
His departure from Colorado — after Oscar Pareja’s first year as coach — was agreed to by both him and the club. But he said it wasn’t all easy.
“It’s hard to say someone got what they wanted. It’s just something that happens,” Larentowicz said of his trade. “I’d say I got part of what I wanted. I knew that Frank (Klopas, Chicago coach) was interested in me. He was the coach that showed interest.
“At this point, it’s a situation that’s very common in sports and it was one that was dealt with.”
Larentowicz was afforded some deserved courtesy in his trade from the Rapids. In his three seasons, he was among Colorado best players in each.
Rapids president Tim Hinchey said before this season that Larentowicz asked for a trade and was given one.
“Jeff is a very cerebral player. I thought perhaps, I think we all thought, that he would embrace the leadership position on the pitch. And it just didn’t come to fruition,” Hinchey said. “He told us at the end of the season that he would like to leave. So we accommodated him.”
“I did meet with Jeff, he was one of the few players I met with after the season. We told him flat-out, he’s the last player we want to get rid of. But I think he and Oscar may have just had a miscommunication or just some kind of difference. It happens. So we accommodated him.”
Jeff Larentowicz in 2012. (Seth McConnell, The Denver Post)
Larentowicz almost landed in Columbus, in a deal that would have sent Robbie Rogers’ rights to Colorado. Instead, Larentowicz went to Chicago.
“Players don’t always have a say,” Larentowicz said. “There were options and the Rapids’ front office listened to my desires. And they didn’t have to. The way trades go down, a lot of people don’t end up happy.”
Chicago this season started slowly, losing 4-0 to the Galaxy in Los Angeles and going winless in its first four games. By the end of May, the Fire were 2-7-2.
But in its past three games overall, Chicago is undefeated at 2-0-1.
“It’s been a bit of an up and down season,” Larentowicz said. “We had a tough start. But in the past few weeks, we’ve been playing well and got some results.
“With the way MLS seasons go, you don’t want to start poorly, but some teams who have started slowly in the past have come back. We need to focus on being competitive,” he added. “It’s just about getting results. If we can get results, and catch up with games played, I’m sure we can be in the thick of it.”
Larentowicz said he is playing a defensive midfield position similar to what he held in Colorado. But Klopas has moved him around some to account for different lineups.
“I have settled in and become more comfortable here and as a part of this team,” Larentowicz said.
On facing his former Rapids team, Larentowicz said there will be some added angles to Wednesday’s game. But he’s been through it before, when he and the Rapids team played his former team, New England, for the first time.
“There’s still some familiar faces (in Colorado). The team is quite different though,” he said. “It’s hard to say what will happen until you get out on the field.
“When I played New England for the first time, it was in New England and early in the season, so it was more difficult,” Larentowicz said. The Rapids won that game, on April 24, 2-1 against the Revolution. Pablo Mastroeni scored the game-winner in that game.
“Still, that’s a jersey I wore for years. It’ll be different.”
Larentowicz also said he could relate to Mastroeni’s trade.
“I wish him all the best,” Larentowicz said. “It’s tough moving, and he has a family. From what I read with his letter to the fans, it seems like a new challenge. I know personally what it’s like. And he’s a veteran guy. He’ll figure it out quickly.
“It’s a shame though,” he said. “For the Rapids, as a team, he was probably their most legendary player. It’ll be tough for fans.”
