FOXBORO – The New England Revolution wrapped up the chilly climate portion of coaching camp on Friday morning and can depart to Florida on Sunday for a five-game slate of MLS preseason matches.
“We are going find out over the next month and it is the same thing we do every year,” mentioned Revolution sporting director and head coach Bruce Arena. “We have to work through that whole process and it will be good to be somewhere else and play against outside competition.”
The Revolution start the warm-weather section of the preseason with a late morning match (11:30 a.m.) on Thursday, Feb. 2, towards Inter Miami CF on the Premier Sports Complex in Lakewood Ranch, Fla. The Revolution will encounter the Philadelphia Union on Sunday at midday at Lakewood Ranch.
The Revolution will journey to St. Petersburg on Friday for a matinee match (1 p.m.) with Nashville SC at Al Lang Stadium. The Revolution bolstered their already stout backend with the acquisition of middle again Dave Romney from Nashville SC on Jan. 5 in alternate for $250,000 in General Allocation Money and $275,000 in 2024 GAM.
Arena appreciated what the sturdy Romney did for Nashville’s protection and he will probably be competing for preseason minutes with Andrew Farrell, Henry Kessler and Omar Gonzalez.
“I have always been watching this team closely because of Bruce, I was always keeping tabs on him,” mentioned Romney. “I like loads of the gamers right here and stuff like that and me and (midfielder Matt) Polster had been at a nationwide staff camp collectively.
“I think they are a solid team and play good soccer. They kind of had some breaks in 2021 and unlucky last year. I’m just happy to be here honestly.”
The scene shifts to Clearwater for a midday sport towards FC Cincinnati at Walter C. Campbell Park on Feb. 14. The Revolution conclude their Sunshine State sojourn on Saturday, Feb 18, with a night (7:30 p.m.) sport towards Orlando City SC at Exploria Stadium in Orlando.
Arena has a stable nucleus to combine and match within the preseason with one large exception. The Revolution’s main scorer from final season, striker Gustavo Bou of Argentina, has missed the primary half of coaching ready to acquire a inexperienced card so he can enter the nation.
Arena cleared out the underperforming gamers on the finish of the 2022 season and added key items like Romney and midfielder Latif Blessing, a shifty winger from Ghana who was a part of a money transaction with LAFC. Blessing performed in 145 video games with LAFC and logged 9,749 minutes with 14 objectives, 23 assists and 146 pictures.
“I am so happy to be here and it was my dream to move forward,” mentioned Blessing. “I’m so completely happy to be with this group and I’m right here to assist this staff transfer ahead as a result of this staff can win a championship.
“I am here to be part of this group so at the end of the year we can have the trophy. I think the coach (Arena) wants me to be here and I’m happy. This is my life and I’m going to work hard and have a good season here.”
Arena carried out a spirited last scrimmage on Friday to get a deal with on how he’ll deploy his gamers on the pitch down south. The preseason will probably be Arena’s take a look at case for what combos and schemes work greatest. The Revolution open the common season at Charlotte on Feb. 25. The Revolution will face the Houston Dynamo within the dwelling opener on March 4 at Gillette Stadium.
“We have to get through the preseason before we can figure anything out to be honest with you,” mentioned Arena. “We are usually not going to be including any extra gamers than we have already got.
“We are going to think about every thing at this level. We have a strategy to go as a franchise. Obviously in our historical past we haven’t received an MLS Cup and it’s not that we’re the one one in that place.
“Winning the (2021) Supporters Shield was a nice accomplishment for the club but there are a lot of challenges ahead. Getting the team better competitively and having a larger footprint in this city as well.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com