Matt Wells, a North Londoner with coaching experience under Ange Postecoglou, Thomas Frank, and Scott Parker, has embarked on his first head coaching role with the Colorado Rapids, aiming to instill an aggressive, commanding style of football. Since joining the Rapids, Wells has been unapologetically vocal about his expectations, pushing the young team to perform with relentless intensity on and off the pitch in Denver.
The Rapids demonstrated strong moments during the first half of their preseason friendlies, but Wells made it clear he was not satisfied with lapses in the second half, often raising his voice to deliver pointed feedback. This early establishment of a demanding culture reflects his commitment to transforming Colorado into a dominant side capable of returning to the playoffs.
A Perfect Match: Wells Welcomes the Challenge in Colorado
Wells had multiple options before accepting the Colorado Rapids position, having built a reputation as one of the top assistants in football during his time at Tottenham. Ready for a head coaching challenge for years, Wells shared,
“I’ve felt ready for probably as long back as three, four years ago. So, yeah, to finally be in that position, it’s good for me.”
Despite interest from clubs across England and abroad, the Rapids’ opportunity caught Wells’ attention due to the aligned ambitions and personalities within the squad. He reflected,
“The opportunity, when it came up, was one that piqued my interest. And when I spoke to the guys here, it felt like a really good fit in terms of the types of personalities here. And they’re ambitious, I’m ambitious, so yeah, I decided to make the move. And I’m very glad that did,”
underscoring his belief that Colorado’s environment suits his vision as a coach.
Having some familiarity with American soccer culture from coaching youth camps in the U.S. and frequent holidays with his wife, Wells recognizes coaching in MLS comes with a distinct set of challenges, but has adapted quickly to his new surroundings.
Integrating English Coaching Methods into MLS
As a North London native now leading a team in Denver, Wells brings his English football vocabulary and rigor, occasionally causing lighthearted teasing among the Rapids players. For example, when explaining tactical approaches, he described the team’s style metaphorically:
“There’s our style of play, which is the car, and everyone’s going to see the car and how well the car moves. But we know that under the bonnet, there’s all these principles,”
illustrating the layered complexity he aims to build.
Wells has imposed substantial physical demands during preseason, featuring double training sessions and detailed tactical work to simulate the intensity of midseason matches without risking injury. He emphasized,
“Their legs are hanging off. And I’m demanding that they press they play with intensity every time our wingers have the ball. I want our full backs overlapping or underlapping. So I’m demanding that whilst in the back of my mind knowing they’re playing under severe fatigue here,”
reflecting his desire for relentless energy and coordination.
Goalkeeper Zack Steffen, a former Manchester City player, noted the physical and mental toughness Wells expects:
“It’s just intense. He wants a strong mentality. He wants strong, physical players. And he’s not afraid to get on us when he doesn’t think that we’re playing up the par. And he lets us know, which is a good thing,”
highlighting the demanding but transparent nature of Wells’ leadership.
From Inconsistency to Control: Wells’ Demand for Proactiveness
Taking over a Rapids team that experienced a turbulent 2025 season, Wells faces the task of stabilizing a roster that showed flashes of brilliance but ultimately fell short of the playoffs due to inconsistency late in the campaign. Where his predecessor Chris Armas prioritized pragmatic results, Wells insists on a more ambitious approach, stating clearly,
“We need to be the proactive team on the pitch every time we go out there. And that’s my vision for the game. I can’t see it any other way.”
The coach’s approach demands domination across all facets of the game, including possession, pressing, control of both penalty areas, set-piece execution, transitions, and maintaining momentum throughout matches. Wells noted that part of the appeal of MLS was the availability of a full preseason, which he stresses is crucial for implementing his philosophy:
“That was a reason about coming here [to MLS], as it gave me time to have a preseason. Because I know I couldn’t just go into the [England’s] Championship now, because I’d have a game in two days, and I have to instantly hit the ground running. I consider myself a philosophy coach, and that takes time to implement.”
Wells emphasizes data analysis and personalized feedback alongside visual assessments to monitor player performance. While acknowledging that the team sometimes falls short of his high standards, he remains transparent with his squad, admitting,
“I think the players are getting to know me, and I just I’m as honest as I can be with one of them, for good and for bad.”
The players’ positive response is apparent, with Steffen praising Wells’ drive:
“He wants to become the best coach in the world. He wants to play the best football in the world. He’s very driven. That makes him a really good coach to have.”
Paxten Aaronson: Central to Colorado’s Ambitions
One of the key figures in Wells’ plans is 22-year-old attacking midfielder Paxten Aaronson, who transferred from Eintracht Frankfurt for a club-record fee potentially totaling $8.5 million. Though Aaronson has only four caps for the USMNT, Wells sees huge potential in the young talent.
Wells explained how the system will leverage Aaronson’s strengths:
“In the system that I play and the style of play, he’s gonna get a lot of ball between the lines, and he’ll be in positions to create. We’ll give him clear pictures in the final third, but we’ll also give him the capacity to use his own decisions, because that’s his magic.”
The coach invested time building relationships with each player before joining the Rapids, holding individual Zoom sessions from London to outline their roles and expectations. Aaronson stood out immediately. Wells said,
“In my conversation with Paxten, I was really impressed. Probably the biggest thing that stands out was his mentality. He’s been at big clubs and big organizations, and he’s got big expectations, so he’s an ambitious young man.”
Still, the coach sees room for growth, especially in Aaronson’s defensive contribution. He remarked,
“The biggest thing for [Aaronson] is he has to improve his pressing, because if we want to be a dominant team, when the other team has the ball, we have to get the ball back as quickly as possible.”
Wells has been direct when expectations are not met; during a preseason game, he addressed Aaronson’s off-ball effort candidly. Reflecting on the player’s response, Wells added,
“We had a good conversation around that, and his responses week in training has been superb.”
Transforming the Rapids into an Exciting, Watchable Team
Wells recognizes that changing Colorado’s playing style and mentality will come with challenges and inevitable setbacks, including some tough losses. However, his multi-year commitment and the youthfulness of the squad present a valuable opportunity for growth and development. Having won three trophies during previous coaching stints at Tottenham and Burnley, Wells knows the taste of success is addictive.
He shared his vision for the Rapids with clear conviction:
“I want to achieve that here, but I want to achieve it playing a special type of football that everyone looks at, and we become a reference for exciting, attacking football, and our fans can identify with it, and the fans of other clubs, if we’re on TV, they want to put the TV on and watch us.”
Wells’ ambition for this season is straightforward and uncompromising:
“I’ve told the group I want to win everything this season except the Fair Play Award.”
With such high expectations, Wells is poised to reshape the Colorado Rapids’ identity, aiming for them to become a dominant force in the MLS and a team admired for their aggressive and captivating football style.
