Caleb Porter: The time is now for Revs to start peaking
The New England Revolution are back on their home field this weekend, hosting St. Louis CITY SC at Gillette Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff on Saturday night.
Looking to rebound from a 2-0 loss at Real Salt Lake last Saturday, New England needs to make the most of its final four home games as the postseason race heats up in the Eastern Conference.
Revolution Head Coach Caleb Porter joined Zolak and Bertrand on Thursday afternoon to share insight on his messaging to the team ahead of Saturday’s tilt against St. Louis.
“We have to take each game as it comes,” Porter said of the final nine-game stretch. “We kind of know what we have to do, big picture. But that doesn’t matter unless you take care of business in the next game, especially because it’s a home game… I look at all four of the home games and those are games we can win. Then we’ll be in a good position.”
Last weekend’s loss on the road was a frustrating defeat for Porter. Goalkeeper Aljaž Ivačič stood on his head, making eight saves to help keep New England within striking distance, but a goal in the closing minutes of the first half from the home side gave the Revolution an uphill climb in the second stanza.
“In the first half, Salt Lake was getting chances, but we were hanging in. If we don’t concede that goal right before the half, for me, the second half is a different story,” Porter said. “We knew we’d substitute three of our top attackers into the game. If we could’ve gotten through at 0-0, we could’ve rested, circled the wagons, and it would’ve been a different story.”
Nevertheless, the Revolution have no time to dwell on past results. New England sits five points below the playoff line in the East, with two games in hand against the other contenders.
“I told the team, ‘This is the time when the best players, the best teams, they start peaking,’” Porter said. “The pressure is higher, but the best players and the best teams, they perform under pressure. We need to be a team that shows we can do that.”
New England’s top attacking threats are positioned to see increased minutes on Saturday night, when St. Louis, a 2023 MLS expansion side, makes its way to Foxborough for the first time.
Forward Luca Langoni, acquired on a club-record transfer fee in August, is pushing to make his first MLS start in his home debut. Langoni recorded a goal-and-assist performance in his first MLS appearance two weeks ago in Montreal. Forwards Dylan Borrero and Giacomo Vrioni are nearing full strength in their returns from injuries.
“They weren’t ready the last two games,” Porter said. “We’ve been building them up the right way. They’ll be ready to play a major role in this game and it couldn’t come at a better time.”
Saturday’s match airs on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app in English and Spanish. Listen here on 98.5 The Sports Hub with Brad Feldman and Charlie Davies in the booth.
