Arena has big plans
Coach looks to put ‘hectic year’ behind
Revolution sporting director and head coach Bruce Arena begins his third MLS campaign in New England without having experienced a complete season at the helm.
Arena placed that eventuality at the top of his wish list as the Revolution opened training camp Monday at their practice facility in Foxboro.
Arena took charge on May 14, 2019, replacing Brad Friedel. Arena rejuvenated a faltering franchise (2-8-2) with an 11-game unbeaten run and closed the season 8-3-8 to make the MLS playoffs.
Arena was at the front end of his rebuilding process in 2020 when MLS went dark on March 12 in response to the global COVID19 pandemic.
“One thing that’s a big difference with our team this year, and I told them that in our team meeting, is that we have not had a full year with this team,” said Arena.
“Our coaching staff came in at about the middle of 2019. Then 2020 was a completely awkward year with the league shutting down in early March and then having a four month break and having a reduced schedule and all of that.”
MLS resumed competition in July with its MLS is Back Tourna
ment and played an unbalanced schedule the rest of the way. Despite the unorthodox composition of the MLS reboot, the Revolution surged in the post season before falling to the Columbus Crew, 1-0, in the Eastern Conference title game.
“The 2020 season was a hectic year for everyone in the league,” said Arena. “We played Philadelphia six times when you include the playoffs and Montreal five times.
“We never played anyone out of conference. It was a weird year and we were never together in a complete season. This year hopefully is the first year we are going to be together for a full season and the positive part is we know each other now.
“We’ve built a roster that is stronger than we’ve had in previous years. Hopefully, that adds up to some more success in the regular season.”
Arena has divided his seven-week training camp into two components that will take place at opposite ends of the country.
Arena will conduct the conditioning and team building aspects of training camp in Foxboro. The Revs will then travel to Los Angeles to play a schedule of exhibition friendlies in preparation for their opener on April 17 against an opponent to be named later.
“We’ll have about three to four weeks in Foxboro and about three weeks in Los Angeles,” said Arena. “The blueprint in the last two or three weeks is to get the guys match fitness in competition. …
“Certainly, the start of preseason here in Foxboro we need to move the players along with their fitness, their touch and team tactics and those types of things. We will complement all that when we get into Los Angeles and play some competitive exhibition games.”
Arena was active in the offseason in an attempt to get two wins better than the Revs were in the 2020 playoffs.
The Revolution acquired defender A. J. DeLaGarza and midfielder Emmanuel Boateng, both of whom played for Arena with the LA Galaxy.
Arena also brought in Wilfrid Kaptoum, a 24year-old midfielder from Cameroon. The 5-9, 159pound Kaptoum is a free transfer who signed with New England on Dec. 23.
Arena added Christian Mafla, a left-footed defender from Columbia, and keeper Earl Edwards Jr., who played six MLS seasons with Orlando City FC and D.C. United.
The Revolution selected Pittsburgh striker Edward Kizza with the 24th pick in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft. They added Manhattan College defender Francois Dulysse in the second round with the 51st pick. That cadre of newcomers have joined the returning players with guaranteed contracts and players whose options were exercised.
“We are seeing what kind of fitness levels the players are at and get a quick evaluation of the new players that have joined us this year,” said Arena. “We will try and move the team forward as we get into the second week of training.
“I think we will bring in another player possibly before the season starts. Then evaluate where we are during the season and see if there are any additions that we need to make in the summer transfer window.”
Striker Adam Buksa, an international player from Krakow, Poland, is experiencing transportation issues in Europe but is expected to be in camp soon.
Defender Henry Kessler, who played in 22 regular season games with 19 starts as a rookie, is currently training with the U.S. Under 23 Men’s National Team. Kessler is in Guadalajara, Mexico, in preparation for the Concacaf Olympic Qualifying Championship.
“He is in with the U-23s now,” said Arena. “Our expectations are he gets better as a player and takes advantage of the experience he had in year one.
“I thought he did an outstanding job for us last year and hopefully he can build on that in 2021.”