Caleb Porter: Revolution must “focus on the process of getting better”
Last Saturday’s 4-0 loss at Charlotte FC was one the New England Revolution will want to erase from their minds quickly. The Revolution trailed 1-0 at halftime before a red card to Dylan Borrero and three second-half Charlotte goals led to yet another frustrating defeat.
It was a tough look for the Revs, made worse by tense interaction between midfielder Carles Gil and defender Xavier Arreaga, whose shoving match was caught on camera as the team made its way into the locker room at halftime.
So, where do the Revs go from here? Head Coach Caleb Porter joined Zolak, Bertrand, and McKone on Wednesday to share his perspective on the drama from Charlotte, and how his team can move forward together with five games left to play.
“We have to continue to focus on the process of getting better,” Porter said. “I go back to my message yesterday. I had a long talk with the team, and my message to them was, ‘Passion is good, emotion is good.’ That means you care.”
Porter wasn’t pleased to see the dispute between Gil, the Revolution captain, and Arreaga play out in front of a full stadium in Charlotte, and a global TV audience. However, he views it as a moment of passion between two who hold themselves to high standards.
“You don’t want guys happy when you lose, when things aren’t going well,” Porter said. “You want guys passionate. I view that situation actually as a good situation. But the timing and where it happened wasn’t good. That needs to happen in the locker room.
“When you trust people, you tell them what’s on your mind. The sign of trust is when guys hold each other accountable. They just did it at the wrong time and in the wrong way.”
New England needs no reminder of its do-or-die situation, as they trail the playoff line by eight points with just five opportunities left to climb the ladder. Regardless of the long odds, the team’s mindset remains the same as it has been all season.
“You have to keep growing, you have to keep being humble, you have to keep looking at yourself in the mirror and correcting our performances,” Porter said. “We have to keep focusing on what it’s going to take to eventually be a championship team. That’s the only thing we need to be focused on here, every day and every week, until the end of the season.”
Up next for the Revolution is a home meeting with Nashville SC on Saturday night, the club’s annual Fight Childhood Cancer Match. For the second time in the last four matches, Porter won’t be on the sideline as the Revs’ gaffer is automatically suspended for Saturday’s tilt due to yellow card accumulation.
“I reflected a lot over the last several days,” Porter said. “I can’t ask my guys to be less emotional if I’m not calm myself and making better decision. Ultimately, being out is the reality. It sucks, but I have to be better. It starts with me.”
Saturday’s match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app. Listen to the club’s local radio call right here on 98.5 The Sports Hub, with Brad Feldman and Charlie Davies in the booth.
