FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Juan Agudelo said during preseason that one of his primary goals in 2015 was to play the full 90 minutes each and every time he took the field.
That objective went by the wayside in the season opener when he came off just past the hour-mark, but as expected, Agudelo’s minutes have steadily increased with his fitness. Last weekend against the Montreal Impact he played 84 minutes, and Agudelo believes he’s on the cusp of top form.
“I feel good,” he said after his third game following a nine-month layoff. “I felt as though maybe I could’ve even finished the game; that’s how well I was feeling fitness-wise. But I know it’s a progression. I know I haven’t played in a while, but I think I’m progressing well.”
An injury to Charlie Davies late in preseason thrust Agudelo into the starting lineup perhaps earlier than the Revs had anticipated, but he’s used the past three games to shake off any lingering rust. His sharpness is still returning, but even so, Agudelo’s been inches from opening his account multiple times.
Agudelo has started all three games at the top of New England’s 4-2-3-1 formation, giving the young forward a chance to use his 6-foot-1 frame in a target role. But that’s not the only role he can play.
“We want to continue to make him a little bit more versatile and try different things,” said head coach Jay Heaps. “But I like what he’s brought and I think our group is getting better.”
That versatility was on display last weekend when Agudelo shifted into a wide role upon Davies’ introduction in the 62nd minute. As a winger, Agudelo was just as involved in New England’s buildup, but spent less time with his back to goal and more time attacking defenders one-on-one.
“I feel, to be honest, a little bit more comfortable playing on the wing,” Agudelo said. “Very few times in my career I’ve had to play as sort of that lone striker. I understand I’m good at holding the ball, just maybe a little bit more comfortable facing the goal more.”
Agudelo split his time between playing on the wing and in a target role during his first stint in New England back in 2013, and with Davies back to full health, Heaps has increased options in the attack.
But regardless of which role Agudelo plays moving forward, he’s confident that goals – and wins – will start flowing for the Revolution in the very near future.
“Like coach Jay Heaps said, we’re inches away from getting a goal and winning a game,” Agudelo said. “It’s nothing to freak out about. It’s just something we’ve got to fix.”
