Zolak & Bertrand: Revs and Porter “100 percent focused” on climbing MLS table
With four points over their last two MLS matches, the New England Revolution are finally starting to rebound from their slow start to the 2024 season. Now that the club’s run in Concacaf Champions Cup has come to an end, Head Coach Caleb Porter and his team can focus solely on climbing the MLS table.
After drawing Chicago at home in March, New England collected its first victory of the 2024 MLS season last Saturday, blanking Charlotte FC for a 1-0 win at Gillette Stadium behind Nacho Gil’s goal. Porter joined Zolak and Bertrand Thursday afternoon to discuss how the team can build on those two positive results, beginning this Saturday in the Bronx at New York City FC.
“The last two league games, we drew, and we won,” Porter reminded the crew. “Now, we’re 100 percent focused on [MLS play]. The next seven weeks, we have a week of preparation and then a game. So, I’m really looking forward to having a real process where we can prepare, we can play a game, we can reflect on the game, we can correct, we can train again, and then prepare again.”
Porter feels confident that New England’s last two performances are an indication of better days ahead, especially as the team can now build into a rhythm without a calendar congested with midweek matches.
“I think you’ll see a lot more continuity in our lineup,” Porter said. “You’ll see a lot more consistency in our performances, and I think you’ll see a lot more points too.”
The Revolution will aim to collect points for a third consecutive match on Saturday, when they visit Eastern Conference rival New York City FC for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Yankee Stadium.
“It’s different, there’s no doubt about it,” Porter said of the unique field in the Bronx. “I mean, our game isn’t meant to be played in the outfield of a baseball stadium. It’s kind of cool, you’re in Yankee Stadium, but the orientation of the pitch is weird, the spatial awareness of it all. It’s a postage-stamp sized. It’s very narrow, so there’s zero width. In our game, you need width and there’s not much width in the game.”
Nevertheless, with points on the line, the Revolution have no room for excuses.
“There’s little peculiarities in our league in different stadiums,” Porter added. “You just have to manage it. You have to find a way. It’s both teams playing in it and you have to find a way to get it done, regardless.”
Watch Saturday’s match on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app or listen to the Revolution’s radio call on 98.5 The Sports Hub HD2 with Brad Feldman and Charlie Davies in the booth.