Taylor Twellman on The Soccer Show: Expect “championship feel” at Gillette Stadium against Messi and Inter Miami
The New England Revolution are ready for the biggest soccer game to hit New England in more than a decade when global soccer icon Lionel Messi visits Foxborough, with a record-breaking crowd of 65,000 expected at Gillette Stadium.
Taylor Twellman, the lead analyst for MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app and the Revs’ all- time leading scorer, joined D.J. Bean on “The Soccer Show” this morning to preview tonight’s sellout match, which will likely feature one of the greatest players of all time.
If he takes the field, will fireworks follow? For Twellman, a five-time MLS All-Star, there is little doubt.
“He delivers every single time,” Twellman said of Messi. “There’s only been a couple of times that Gillette Stadium is filled out to the brink for a soccer game, and yet, I promise you tonight, when people walk into the building that haven’t gone to a Revs game in a while, that haven’t gone to a soccer game, they are going to feel like this is Monday Night Football times a thousand.
“They’re going to feel like it’s a championship game, because the greatest of all time is going to walk into that building and do something that you didn’t expect to see.”
The Revolution have struggled out of the gates, posting only one win and one draw for four points through eight regular season games. Nevertheless, Twellman believes the club has a chance of defeating Inter Miami on their home pitch.
“I’m curious how the Revs play tonight. They’re desperate, and this is a kind of game where if they win tonight in front of 60,000 [fans] and put on a show, it very quickly can change their season in Major League Soccer,” Twellman said. “Do I think they do that? I’m more 50 /50 on it, but the point is they could easily do it tonight.”
There has been much debate surrounding whether Messi will actually enter the field tonight, but Twellman, who has covered Miami as closely as anyone in the national soccer media since the Argentinian legend’s arrival, thinks an appearance is more than probable. The odds are enhanced by a few injuries to Miami’s players who are less assured to make the trip.
“Now, they played on it in Charlotte on Decision Day last year in a game that was inconsequential to them. They still showed up and played,” Twellman said of the impact of the artificial turf. “I’ll be shocked if at least Messi and Busquets don’t play tonight.”
The Revolution will look to collect a second straight win at home in front of the record crowd at Gillette Stadium. Listen to the Revolution radio call on Country 102.5 FM and SiriusXM FC (Ch. 157) or watch the game live on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app, with coverage in English and Spanish.