When facing their old team, professional athletes tend to fall into one of two camps: it’s just another game, or this one comes with an added edge.
Colorado Rapids outside back Keegan Rosenberry falls into the former category ahead of traveling to face the Philadelphia Union (7:30 pm ET | TV & streaming info) on Wednesday evening at Talen Energy Stadium. Across three seasons, Rosenberry made 81 appearances for the Union, scoring three goals and dishing out six assists.
Rosenberry, who spent time in the Union academy before getting drafted by Philadelphia in 2016, was traded to Colorado on Dec. 19, 2018.
“For us, we’re focused on so many little things and getting back to winning ways,” Rosenberry said. “Fortunately for the past couple of games it’s happened, but any road game is going to be difficult. We know that, especially going to Philly [who’s] in good form and at the top of the Eastern Conference.”
This match pits clubs heading in different directions, as the Union are one point behind D.C. United for pole position atop the Eastern Conference standings. Meanwhile, Colorado is bottom of the Western Conference standings with eight points through 13 matches, though have won their last two games. The Rapids are under the guidance of interim head coach Conor Casey, who’s taken over from Anthony Hudson.
Rosenberry feels this brief turnaround is no mistake.
“Our chemistry in the locker room is great,” said Rosenberry, who signed a three-year contract extension with Colorado in February. “With the results we had in the beginning of the year, that can do bad things to a club and to the morale and to a team in general.”
For Colorado, the question becomes if they can earn road results in consecutive games, having beat the LA Galaxy1-0 on May 19. To do that, Rosenberry offered a scouting report of sorts, with few players on the Rapids knowing better how the Union play under head coach Jim Curtin.
“I think they’ve got a great balance, they’re possession-oriented, so it makes it difficult,” Rosenberry, 25, said. “When you don’t have a lot of the ball and you play against a team, it’s difficult to generate chances. We’ll look a little more in-depth at them the next couple of days, but we’re looking forward to it.”
