Brandon Bye on The Soccer Show: “Why not us?”
Right back Brandon Bye and the New England Revolution are right where they want to be as they head into the final 15 games of the 2023 MLS season.
After sweeping a three-game homestand to close the month of June, the Revolution (10-3-6; 36 pts.) are unbeaten over their last six matches and trail first-place FC Cincinnati (13-2-4; 43 pts.) by a seven-point margin in the Supporters’ Shield race heading into their final meeting of the season.
The top two teams in MLS will meet tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET at FC Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium, where the Orange and Blue are a perfect 10-0-0 this season. Despite Cincy’s strong home form, Bye and the Revolution are confident that New England can continue building on its string of positive results.
“I think we have a good group,” Bye said during his appearance on The Soccer Show with DJ Bean. “We have some special players that can show their special qualities on the field at any given time. We’re just trying to be consistent on a daily basis, on a weekly basis. Whether we’re home or away, whatever kind of stretch we’re going through, I think that’s the biggest thing for us. Just staying as consistent as possible and trying to get better.”
A chance to close the seven-point gap couldn’t have come at a better time. New England’s attack continues to rank among top MLS teams in goals scored, while the defense has conceded just three goals in the last four matches.
“Things are going well,” Bye said. “We don’t want to get too ahead of ourselves. Things change every week. But yeah, we’re in a good spot right now and we have to keep that moving forward.”
Although there’s plenty of soccer left on the schedule and a lot more to play for, Bye feels the Revs have all the necessary ingredients to have a special season.
“At the beginning of the year, you look around the group and you say ‘Why not? Why not us?’ You look around the group and we have a very solid group, some new guys and some young guys,” Bye said. “We have all the potential to do everything and achieve everything that’s out there. That’s always the goal.”
Behind Bye, goalkeeper Djordje Petrović has continued his stellar 2023 campaign as the Revs’ anchor in net. He punctuated last week’s 2-1 win over Toronto FC with several highlight-reel saves en route to a career-high nine stops on the night. This week, the 23-year-old Serbian international was announced as a 2023 MLS All-Star.
“I’m thrilled for Djordje,” Bye said. “It’s an amazing achievement. In his short time here, he’s proven that he’s a very good goalie and one of the best in the league.”
Bye’s thoughts on the one glaring omission?
“Carles [Gil], I mean, he’s one of the best players in the league,” Bye said. “I have nothing much to say about that other than I don’t know how that happens.”
Watch Saturday’s match on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV in English and Spanish or listen live on 98.5 The Sports Hub with Brad Feldman and Charlie Davies calling the action.
