Feldman: Revolution look to rediscover “confidence and cohesion” under Clint Peay
With six matches remaining in the MLS regular season, the playoff race in the Eastern Conference remains tight with four points separating second through sixth place. For the New England Revolution, currently sitting in fifth with a game in hand over third-place Columbus and second-place Orlando, a win against Chicago Fire FC would seal a postseason berth for the fourth time in five years.
Brad Feldman, play-by-play announcer for the Revolution on 98.5 The Sports Hub, joined D.J. Bean on “The Soccer Show” to discuss interim head coach Clint Peay, the return of a familiar face to training, and how the Revolution are looking heading into the home stretch of the season.
“The eye test tells me that the attitude and the approach on the training pitch matches the rhetoric,” Feldman said. “They’re professionals, going to bring their best efforts and focus, regardless of who’s managing the team.”
With a win against Chicago on Saturday night, New England could climb as high as second in the log jammed Eastern Conference standings, further solidifying the Revolution as one of the elite teams in the MLS this season. Saturday’s match concludes a grueling three-game road swing that has seen New England pick up a draw at Minnesota and a loss at Colorado.
The Revolution are poised to return to winning ways against a Chicago Fire FC side currently sitting in 11th place in the East and looking to snap a 493-minute scoreless drought – the second-longest run without a goal in MLS this season.
At the helm once again this week is Interim Head Coach Clint Peay. After three-plus seasons in charge of Revolution II, Peay has been elevated to the same role with the first team to close the 2023 campaign and is now tasked with stabilizing the squad ahead of the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs next month.
“I really like Clint Peay,” Bean said. “I think there is a level headedness that is being brought to a situation that needs it right now. I believe in this team going forward.”
Peay brings over 18 years of coaching experience with him including stints with the U.S. Youth National Team program. Appointing Marcelo Santos and adding U.S. Soccer legend Tab Ramos as assistant coaches, Peay and his staff will look to gather some momentum as the regular season concludes.
“I think the most important thing for Clint Peay and his staff is to make sure that going into October, they have a rhythm and their confidence and cohesion,” said Feldman.
New England welcomed an experienced goalkeeper to the group, Czech international Tomáš Vaclík, who signed with the club in August following Djordje Petrović’s departure to Chelsea and finally arrived in Foxborough this week.
Along with Vaclík, the Revolution saw a familiar face make his return to training this week – fourth-year defender Henry Kessler. After suffering an injury in early April, the Revolution have been without Kessler for much of the 2023 season. The sixth overall pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft, Kessler has been a mainstay on the Revolution backline since joining the squad and played a vital role in New England’s 2021 Supporters’ Shield-winning campaign.
“To have a fully fit Henry Kessler for playoff time would be a boom for the New England Revolution,” Feldman said. “I think there’s enough time for that to happen.”
Watch the Revolution take on Chicago Fire FC tonight at 8:30 p.m. for FREE on Apple TV. Listen live on 98.5 The Sports Hub with Brad Feldman and Charlie Davies calling the action.
