Pablo Mastroeni must be getting closer and closer to becoming head coach of the Colorado Rapids.
The 37-year old former Rapids captain has taken the reins of the Denver club during preseason as he prepares the playing roster for the 2014 MLS season.
Argentine-born former USA international Mastroeni has taken on a type of caretaker, or advisory, role following the early January departure of Oscar Pareja who took the reins at FC Dallas.
Colorado have yet to decide on who will become their new head coach, despite the new MLS campaign being less than three weeks away, but Mastroeni feels perhaps he is well-placed to become the main man at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
"The way I've handled this whole thing is I'm going to be the coach until I'm told otherwise, and I made that very clear with the group," Mastroeni told Soccer America on the weekend.
"In order to have the commitment, that is the message that has to be reiterated. I said that the first day, and I haven't had to say that again."
As for his coaching credentials, Mastroeni is aware he has some experience to gain but believes in giving players multiples opportunities to prove themselves.
"You never know what a player is capable of unless you give him a shot," he added. "I think you are seeing guys who being given a second opportunity or third opportunity or in fact their first opportunity, and that is what preseason is all about for the coach.
"The most important aspect of being a manager is to give everyone a fair shake and get them to understand that, and not just say it, but do it."
Mastroeni does, however, have enough experience as a Colorado Rapids man after making around 230 appearances for the club over a decade-plus stint which included the 2010 MLS Cup triumph.
