Revolution set for home opener against Chicago Fire

FOXBORO — The Revolution mantra heading into Saturday afternoon’s 2020 home opener opposite the Chicago Fire could be, “familiarity breeds success.” A new year certainly brings a different challenges, but with head coach Bruce Arena on hand from the get-go and nine players in the starting eleven from last season’s playoff game against Atlanta United, the prognosis is that everyone is starting on the same page. That’s a good thing.

“It never gets easier,” said Arena, who was quick to dispel any hint that the new campaign will be a cakewalk, especially after opening the campaign with a 2-1 loss in Montreal last week. “Certainly, in those conditions it’s hard to be critical of the team. But, now we have a home game and they are important to any team. We had a good record in the second half at home during last season and we’d like to make Gillette (Stadium) a fortress like that during this season. We have 17 home games and it’s important to take as many points as we can at home.”

Last season, after the Revs struggled to an early 2-8-2 showing under the tutelage of Brad Friedel, who was fired on May 9 by the Revs hierarchy. Assistant coach Mike Lapper took the reins on an interim basis, going 1-0-2, before Arena, who holds a record five MLS Cup titles, was named the club’s new Sporting Director and eighth head coach on May 14. Arena took to the sidelines for a 2-1 win at the Los Angeles Galaxy in early June, reinserted Matt Turner as the starting goalkeeper, brought in the remarkable 29-year-old Argentine forward Gustavo Bou, and the rejuvenated Revs caught lightening in a bottle. Under Arena and with the new faces, the club went 9-4-8 to earn its first playoff berth since 2015. Carles Gil was voted MLS Newcomer of the Year after becoming only the second Revs player to record 10 goals and 10 assists in the same season.

The Revs have been bolstered by the additions of forward Adam Buksa, their third Designated Player (Bou and Gil are the others) on transfer from Polish side Pogon Szczecin and rookie defender Harry Kessler, whom the Revs selected with the fourth overall pick in January’s SuperDraft. Both Buksa and Kessler went the full 90 minutes in their debuts. Dutch defender Alexander Buttner came on board. New/old face, Kelyn Rowe, who appeared in 206 games for the Revs before being traded and splitting 18 games last season between Kansas City and Salt Lake, was reacquired as a free agent on Dec. 4 and adds another layer of continuity and consistency to the squad. Third-year keeper Jeff Caldwell was also inked.

Although its new season, the Revs want to continue that upward trend starting with Saturday’s 1:30 p.m. match with Chicago Fire.

“We’ve had a good week of training and we’re just starting to look at film of them (Chicago) now,” said veteran forward Teal Bunbury. “Ultimately, the focus has to be on us and on our own preparation, yet know where their strengths and weaknesses are. The guys just have to stay together. Points matter.”

Bunbury agrees that having the same coaching staff installed from Day One makes for a solid foundation.

“It makes a difference when you’re just starting a season. Everyone knows what the expectations are and all the guys came in fit and ready to go,” he said.

Should local hero Scott Caldwell step on the field (Saturday) he will reach a milestone attained by only five other current Revs players by appearing in his 200th MLS game. The Braintree native, who became the teams’ second Homegrown Player after being signed in December 2012, will join Bunbury (270), Diego Fagundez (243), Seth Sinovic (230), Kelyn Rowe (224) and Andrew Farrell (220) in the exclusive club. Caldwell, Fagundez (Leominster), join Justin Rennicks (Hamilton), and 17-year-old newcomer Damian Rivera (Cranston, R.I.) as the four Homegrown players on the 18-man roster, which ties a club record. Caldwell said the players want to build week to week.

“Definitely, you want to get better between week one and week two, maybe not as much noticeable as in football, which has a shorter season. I mean, our goal is to get better every week, very game and improve on all facets,” he said. “Chicago is a very good team with a lot of aggressive players up front and it’s something we have to be ready for.”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/38mXPxG