Prior to Saturday’s match against Vancouver, we took some time to chat with longtime broadcaster Jorge Perez-Navarro to get his perspective. The play-by-play man has had extensive experience over the course of his career, including MLS Cup Finals, MLS All-Star Games, UEFA Champions League matches, and much more. Perez-Navarro will be sharing the booth with Rapids and MLS legend Marcelo Balboa for the Spanish broadcast of Saturday’s match on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
You share the booth with Rapids legend Marcelo Balboa, what has it been like to have him as your partner?
That question has two different answers. To me, the human side and the personal side are above everything. Having to work with somebody is like being married. You go through thick and thin, good and bad, you travel, it's you against the world. Marcelo Balboa happens to be one of the best human beings that I have been blessed with meeting and being close to and calling him a friend. It's just amazing to see the difference of the indomitable beast he was in the field and how he actually is off the field, because he is the most warm and humble person that you can meet. So, when you are blessed to work with somebody like that, it makes everything so easy. Professionally, he is somebody who really knows the game, who has a great eye. It's really easy for him to try and dissect the game. Once you do your homework, you can start throwing lines, and he will start developing all the knowledge and try to give you the insight of every player, every formation, every tactical idea that the coach is attempting to do during the game. I have an inside joke that sometimes he sends text messages to the coaches about substitutions because exactly what he says during the broadcast is what ends up happening. He is one of the most knowledgeable guys that I have worked with. Again, I’ve been blessed to work with an outstanding and an amazing human being.
Having called multiple Rapids games throughout the year, what is your assessment of the club at this point in the season?
I think this is a team that embodies the whole personality of their coach. If you remember, Chris Armas was a bulldog in the field. He was a fighter. He was a warrior. I think this team fights as well. Sadly, the last touch or the last two touches are the difference between winning and falling short. Those are the tiny little details that are not that big but make a big difference. As long as the players can accomplish the plays and start scoring, I think Colorado can go back to what they were last year. They were contenders until the last month of the season. Sadly, those two losses at home against the Galaxy and Seattle cost them. Then they got the raffle of playing against the LA Galaxy in the first round and the rest was history. However, this team likes to fight. Like we saw, they started to become a name in 2024 during Leagues Cup where they took down Mexican team after Mexican team and then tried to be consistent for the second half of the season, until the last two or three weeks. So, I think if this team keeps fighting, just like the coach always asks of them, I don’t think we can forget about Colorado.
Rafael Navarro has been putting in solid performances as of late, what have your thoughts been of him so far this season?
I think with Navarro, he's a true nine. He can go out of the box. He can go and look for the ball, even try to create opportunities, but that's not his main job. Sadly, sometimes the Rapids have a lot of possession, but really don't build great opportunities. We can look to the basic principle of, ‘it's not how long you have the ball, but what you do when you have it.’ [Djordje]Mihailovic has been trying, but he also needs a supporting committee. This is a team effort and a team game. Navarro needs some assistance, and I think along with Mihailovic, those are the top two players that this team has. So, the rest is on everyone else on the field. They need to be workers, and they need to help in every way to try and assist those two generals and stars of the game.
How do you see Saturday’s matchup playing out?
These are two teams that enter the match in tough circumstances. Colorado, I think they're mad. They are hungry. They want to make amends. They lost their last home game on the 4th of July, a special game. For them, I think it's personal. They need to win at home. They need to score goals. I truly believe that they will try to take advantage of the recent struggles of Vancouver. They have had many injuries and absences. They have [Sebastian] Berhalter and [Brian] White back, but remember, they're coming from international duty. So, are they fit to play 90 minutes? Not only that, they have a very tough week. They play in Colorado on Saturday, then they go to Houston on Wednesday, and then they go to San Diego on Saturday. It's going to be a very tough week for them. I think this is the perfect opportunity for Colorado to turn things around and get three points. From there, just lick the wounds and start adding points for the standings and be one of those seven that can make it directly to the playoffs.
