Carles Gil on The Soccer Show: The Best is Yet to Come for Revs in 2023
Revolution captain and catalyst Carles Gil is playing like a man with something to prove. After being on top of the MLS world in 2021, when he led New England to a Supporters’ Shield and became the Revs’ second MLS Most Valuable Player in club history, Gil and the Revolution succumbed to gravity in a disappointing 2022 campaign. Stymied by injuries and costly mistakes at inopportune moments, the Revolution went through an up-and-down season and found themselves on the outside looking in when the MLS Cup Playoffs rolled around.
Fast forward to 2023, Gil is proving once again that with him in the picture, the Revolution have to be taken seriously as MLS Cup contenders. In his first appearance on The Soccer Show with DJ Bean, Gil said the strong start to the season helps erase the bad memories of 2022. The crafty Spaniard looks to replace those with more positive memories when the Revs close out the three-game homestand on Saturday night vs. Toronto FC.
“After a difficult season last year, we wanted to have a good start,” said Gil, the league’s leading assist creator since he arrived in 2019. “I think we’ve had it. I think the last five games, five of the last six were away [before the homestand]. We didn’t have the results that we wanted. But in the end, I think we’ve had a good start to the season, a good first half. We want to continue like this and continue winning games.”
The midfielder from Valencia, Spain has put the team on his back entering the summer. Gil owns eight assists this season, just one behind the MLS lead, in addition to a team-high seven goals. Gil has driven a high-powered Revolution attack that ranks top-five in MLS with 31 goals scored, averaging 2.33 goals per game at home.
With the season halfway through, Gil says the best is yet to come for a Revolution team that is finally getting healthy after an injury-ridden opening half.
“I don’t know if any game this season we’ve had a full team without injuries,” Gil said. “So hopefully in the important moments, in the playoffs… we have the maximum amount of players available for the game will be important for us.”
New England is unbeaten, 2-0-3, through its last five games. A key component of the Revolution’s strong play as of late is the return of Argentinian forward Gustavo Bou, who resumed action from a leg injury three weeks ago and recorded a goal-and-assist performance in last weekend’s 3-1 victory over Orlando City SC.
“I think since the beginning when [Bou] arrived here, we had very good chemistry,” Gil said. “Now it’s our fourth year together, so it’s easier for both. I know the way he likes to play, him also with me. Normally, I’m having the ball and he does the movements.
“If I make the right [pass], he will score,” Gil added. “That’s why I look to him many times. For the team, it’s very important that he’s fit and without injuries.”
Off the field, Gil has immersed himself in the Boston sports culture and now considered himself a diehard Celtics fan. Gil bled green all season long and has attended many games at TD Garden over his four-plus years in Boston.
“Since I came here, I knew that I wanted to watch some Celtics games in TD Garden,” Gil said. “Last year a little, but this year I started to be a big Celtics fan.
“Giacomo [Vrioni] and I were at Game 7 [against Miami] and I think we didn’t talk in the car on the way home. This year was crazy and now I think I’m a big Celtics fan.”
Watch Gil and the Revolution take on Toronto FC on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. The match is free to watch on Apple TV and airs on 98.5 The Sports Hub.
