Fresh off of signing a new U22 Initiative contract with the Colorado Rapids, Backheeled spoke with Darren Yapi. The Denver native about his breakout year in MLS, new coach Matt Wells, and the promising generation of young players taking the league by storm.
Answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
You had a breakout season last year with eight goals in roughly 1,400 minutes. You’ve been productive again this year as a regular starter. Is there something you’ve developed in your game that’s led to your breakout?
I think I’ve been consistently strengthening all my strengths. I think what I was waiting for was the result of one of my biggest strengths, which is my finishing, to be showcased last year. And it did. I think it was just a matter of time. I obviously struggled with it in the beginning of my career, but I knew I was doing it every day in training so eventually it’s going to show. That time is today.
How would you describe Matt Wells as a coach?
The thing I respect so much is that he just loves the game. He’s so obsessed with just wanting to be the best and getting the best out of us. Because I feel the same. I want to get the best out of myself and I want to play at the highest level I possibly can. So having a guy an intense mentality to be the best is huge.
Joseph Lowery
You’ve played as both a striker and a winger. What allows you to be comfortable in both of those positions?
In this league, there are Designated Player strikers. So it’s more difficult for young strikers to break through. I’ve only seen a few — maybe four or five — getting minutes. It’s more difficult for young strikers to get minutes in this league. But for me, just finding ways to still be able to be used at a high level is a testament to my hard work and the belief that Matt Wells has in me. Last year as well I played out wide and I played inside, so finding ways to still be dangerous and score goals and still use myself strengths that I have in any position is huge.
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