Porter on Zolak & Bertrand: Confidence up, but Revs must “continue fighting”

For the first time all season, the New England Revolution and Head Coach Caleb Porter are on a winning streak. While one Boston team is on the cusp of a championship, the Revs are simply trying to get themselves off the mat after a less-than-desirable start to the season and begin the long climb up the MLS table. They can do that this Saturday, as a win could lift them out of the Eastern Conference cellar.

Despite two consecutive wins, including a stalwart defensive performance in the gutsy 1-0 win against the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, Porter is far from satisfied. During his weekly interview with Zolak & Bertrand on Thursday afternoon, the two-time MLS Cup-winning coach ensured the hosts that he wouldn’t let his team take the foot off the gas pedal.

“When you work really hard and you play well and you finally get rewarded for that, then confidence goes up,” Porter said. “Just the feeling in general, it's better, but we have to now stay hungry and humble and continue fighting. We still have a big hole that we're in, and we need the next one.”

New England’s lone goal in the victory over the Red Bulls was the result of an impressive team buildout, with the lengthy passing sequence starting in the back with goalkeeper Aljaž Ivačič and ending with Carles Gil’s picturesque cross to Emmanuel Boateng for the one-timed winner.

“It's great to see that come to life, because we work a lot on that,” Porter said of the team chemistry shown in the buildup to the goal. “We had an 11-pass sequence against Nashville, too. We weren't scoring goals like that early in the year, so it's a real good sign that the evolution of our style of play is getting better and better.”

In late April, New England made improvements defensively, signing free agent goalkeeper Aljaž Ivačič and trading for Seattle defender Xavier Arreaga. The duo has been a critical part of New England’s recent steadiness defensively. Arreaga has started seven straight matches since joining the Revolution, and ranks third leaguewide with 38 clearances over that span. Ivačič has won three of his six starts for New England, recording a pair of clean sheets along with a penalty save in the victory over Nashville.

“I think it's helped that we’ve got good chemistry in the backline right now,” Porter said of his defense, which has not conceded from open play in the last two games. “Obviously, we added a great goalkeeper and great center back. It’s not just the goalkeeper and the backline, it's also the team. If we're going to have a chance here, we need to be a good defensive team, because we're not a team right now that's outscoring the opponent.

“We need to need to be stingier defensively like we have in last several games.”

The Revolution will look to make it three straight wins on Saturday when Vancouver comes to town for the Revs’ first matchup with a Western Conference foe in 2024. Vancouver, currently fifth in the West, is led by Scotsman Ryan Gault, who is pacing the Whitecaps’ attack with seven goals and four assists. Watch the Revolution on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app. Listen live on 98.5 The Sports Hub with Brad Feldman and Charlie Davies in the booth.