On the attack
Revs forward ready for fresh start after injuring foot in 2020
Revs forward Carles Gil is ready for a fresh start after injuring his foot during 2020 season
Whenever Revolution forward Carles Gil gains possession of the ball in space, he makes the players around him a threat to opposing goalkeepers.
Gil is intent on enhancing his role as the Revolution’s attacking zone rainmaker during the training camp that includes a schedule of match friendlies in Los Angeles.
The Revolution conducted Day 2 of camp Tuesday at their practice facility in Foxboro. Gil is already comfortable and confident in the creator’s role he’s been assigned by coach Bruce Arena.
“I think we each have a role on this team and ever since Bruce got here, we all kind of understand our roles really well to help the team,” said Gil, with Revs’ communications coordinator Harold Rivera serving as interpreter.
“I think my best quality is finding players in space. I think my role in this case is to put the ball in the right spaces to create dangerous opportunities for us against our opponents.
“I have to possess the ball and this is a league that moves very fast from one side to the other. So, we kind of need to recollect ourselves and calm ourselves down. Bruce has played a major role in that since he got here.”
Gil competed in La Liga in Spain, the Premier League in England and Deportivo de La Coruna before migrating to MLS with the Revs in 2019. He played in 34 games with 10 goals and 14 assists, numbers that made him MLS Newcomer of the Year.
Last season was traumatic for Gil on two fronts. MLS closed shop on March 12 in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic and remained dark until July. MLS went back online with its MLS is Back Tournament in Orlando, but Gil suffered a foot injury against D.C. United on July 17.
He underwent surgery on Aug. 5 and resumed training with the team for the stretch run, returning to the fray in a 1-1 draw at Nashville on Oct. 24.
Gil played in six regular-season games with four starts, and recorded two assists. He regained his old form in the Revs’ postseason run to the Eastern Conference final. Gil had two goals and three assists in four playoff games.
“This (training camp) is very important because last year I had a major injury and missed a lot of games,” said Gil. “This year I have many expectations for myself and the team so it is very important to have a great preseason.
“We are just two days in but we
feel good and hopefully we can continue that feeling the rest of our days here.”
Happy anniversary
On March 3, 2016, the Revolution took a flyer on an unheralded goalkeeper named Matt Turner, who played collegiately at Fairfield with limited pro club experience with the Jersey Express.
Turner has since developed into an elite MLS keeper and in January made his first international appearance with the U.S. National Team against Trinidad & Tobago. Turner played in 22 regular-season games and four playoff matches in 2020 and was voted the Revolution’s MVP.
“The biggest thing I’ve learned in these five years is not taking any day for granted,” said Turner. “I make sure every day I remind myself how lucky I am to do the things I do.”
The real Teal
Revs forward Teal Bunbury is a threat to score either from the right midfield or any of the forward positions. Bunbury thrived in Arena’s 4-2-3-1 formation in 2020 and led the team in scoring with eight goals, for which he was awarded the coveted Golden Boot. Bunbury knows reclaiming the boot will be a bigger challenge if Gil, Gustavo Bou and striker Adam Buksa all play a full season.