Revolution turn total focus to climbing the standings
The New England Revolution are in MLS mode on a full-time basis.
The Revolution began the process with their first league win, a 1-0 victory over Charlotte FC last Saturday, while extending their unbeaten streak to two games.
The Revolution (1-4-1) are in 15th place in the Eastern Conference but can exit the basement when they take on 14th-place New York City FC (1-4-2) on Saturday night (7:30) in the Bronx on the irregular pitch at Yankee Stadium.
“All our focus is on our league, which is a nice feeling, we don’t have to compartmentalize with multiple competitions” said Revolution coach Caleb Porter. “All our energies 100 percent is now on the league and we can’t forget in our last two league games we drew and we won.
“I took the team back to the last game versus Charlotte and showed them that game and all the positives of that win, especially our defending and how disciplined we were. I think that is a very good game to build on and we cannot forget we won the last game in the league.”
The Revolution’s Concacaf Champions Cup run came to end with Tuesday night’s 5-2 loss to Club America at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Club America swept the home-andhome series by an aggregate score of 9-2.
The Revolution made a good showing of themselves just reaching the Champions Cup quarterfinals, but the congested schedule of two games a week caused the team to backslide in MLS competition.
The Revolution begin a stretch of seven straight Saturday matches, four on the road, with an opportunity to reposition themselves in the conference standings. Porter can now solidify his Starting XI during this manageable stretch of games with the intent of being in a better place by June.
“It was tough to go back and forth as much as we tried to manage it and juggle it, but it was difficult,” said Porter. “It meant that the league got sacrificed a little bit but it wasn’t by design.
“We wanted to win both but there was more urgency with the Champions Cup because there were knockout games. I am looking forward to having continuity and don’t see our (starting) lineup changing a ton. For the most part, we are going to set our group and keep rolling with them.”
The Revolution have two factors to weigh on their first trip to Gotham this season. Porter concedes that NYCFC is, like the Revolution, a much better team that the record indicates and are motivated to give a strong performance for their loyal but demanding fanbase.
The second is that Porter is compelled to coach to the pitch. The dimension of the baseball diamond at Yankee Stadium makes it the most difficult pitch in NMLS to draw up and execute a game plan.
“You just have to be smart and everything happens quicker because it is a shorter field and transition plays happen quicker and you get to goal quicker,” said Porter. “We have to be mindful on that on both sides of the ball and it is narrow so there is not a ton of width in the game.
“How do you create some width? You have to do it in different ways than normal and set pieces become more of a factor as well. Even things like long throw-ins and service in the box, you have to make some adjustments. It is just a lot more narrow and shorter than any pitch in the league.”
Porter said dynamic forward Dylan Borrero could be ready to perform substitute duties as early as the Inter-Miami game at home on April 27. Borrero suffered a torn ACL on his left knee in a 1-1 draw with FC Cincinnati on April 29, 2023.