Porter on Zolak & Bertrand: Carles Gil “sets the tone for everything we do”
There is no debate. Carles Gil has been far and away the New England Revolution’s most important player since arriving to the club in 2019. On Thursday, the club made a move to keep the former league MVP around a little while longer as the Revolution announced a new four-year contract to keep the Revs’ captain in Foxborough through 2027.
During his weekly appearance on Zolak and Bertrand, Revolution Head Coach Caleb Porter joined Zolak and Bertrand to highlight the significance of this important move to lock down one of the top playmakers in MLS.
“He’s a big-time player. I knew that from afar obviously, playing against him, but then when you get actually in the building with this guy and you see what he’s like as a professional and as a person, I have more respect than ever for him, just the way he approaches his job,” Porter said of Gil. “Special player and very good person. Rare. It’s rare to find a guy as good as him that also works hard and just approaches every day like a humble guy.”
Gil, a three-time Revolution Team MVP, has been the engine for the Revolution offense for the last five seasons, pulling the strings from central midfield to amass 63 regular season assists, most in the league during that span. The 2021 campaign marked his best season in New England, as he led the team to a historic 22-win season, capturing the Supporters’ Shield. Now, coming off a career-high 11 goals and 15 assists in 2023, the Revolution captain remains focused on bringing the club its first MLS Cup. Porter expressed his gratitude for having a leader on his team with a winning mentality, setting a strong example for the rest of the players in the locker room every day.
“He sets the tone for everything we do. He’s our captain. He’s our best player. He’s one of the best players in the league and like I said, he’s an honest player. Our roster designations are interesting because we have these guys that are stamped on their forehead with a DP designation, and if you have a Designated Player, everyone knows that they’re making more money in that locker room and if they’re not always doing the right things, it can really taint your culture,” Porter added. “So, it’s huge to have a Designated Player that is your most honest guy, that sets the tone for everything. If he’s working hard defensively and doing all of the little things he needs to be a professional, then it makes it easy for me to make sure everybody else does that.”
The connection between Gil and his younger brother, Nacho, has been one of the noteworthy developments so far in the young 2024 season. On Feb. 29 against CA Independiente, that became evident when Carles found Nacho for the opening goal in the team’s 3-0 win in the first round of the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup. Porter was asked about the start of Nacho’s season:
“I think he’s playing really well right now, Nacho. He had a great game yesterday, got a big win in the Concacaf Champions Cup. Like brothers, they have a sixth sense for each other, so I feel like the chemistry when they’re on the field together is very good.”
The Gil brothers will have another opportunity to showcase their connection as the Revolution continue the MLS regular season this Saturday, traveling to take on Atlanta United FC at Mercedes Benz Stadium. The 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff can be heard on 98.5 The Sports Hub HD2 and on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app.
