FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – By definition, defenders defend. But as the New England Revolution have proven in recent weeks, defensive duties aren’t limited to the back four and goalkeeper. A solid defensive unit needs to include the midfielders, as well. The forwards, too.
“It’s not about just the back four defending, or the goalkeeper having a good game or anything like that,” said left back Chris Tierney. “It’s about a team mentality of defending and playing on both sides of the ball. I think we’re starting to do that much better now and it’s showing in our defensive record.”
The improvements in New England’s defensive record through the past five games are remarkable. After conceding multiple goals in every game of a five-game losing streak – 13 in total – the Revs have since allowed just three goals through a five-game unbeaten run (4-0-1), keeping three clean sheets in the process.
A consistent backline has helped with cohesion as Tierney and Jeremy Hall have flanked center backs Jose Goncalves and Andrew Farrell through much of the unbeaten run, but players like Charlie Davies, Lee Nguyen, Diego Fagundez and Kelyn Rowe have been just as instrumental in shutting teams down.
The evidence is there in the statistics; through their past three games, all wins, the Revs have allowed a total of five shots on target. They’re not just shutting out their opponents – they’re preventing them from ever generating decent looks.
“I think we’ve pressed at the right times, and when we don’t, we have to have our really tough, tight shape and be hard to break down,” said head coach Jay Heaps. “It limits the exposure in certain parts where we thought we were getting vulnerable. Now we’re definitely a little bit more compact.”
Nguyen is one of the Revolution’s best defensive weapons, as his relentless pressure on opposing midfielders and defenders prevents attacks from developing. And when he can force a turnover in a dangerous area, that defensive work can turn into an immediate offensive chance.
And there’s a cyclical nature to the defensive work; when the Revs are able to keep opponents off the board for an extended period of time, it provides a boost to the attack, knowing that a single goal could be all that’s needed to secure three points.
“It’s one of the things that we’ve been preaching all year,” said Nguyen. “We need all 11 guys to be working. I think we’ve been doing that well.
“At the same time, it’s really a credit to the back four and the goalkeepers, who’ve stepped it up big-time. It’s helped. It’s also helped us going forward. Being able to keep the games tight – 0-0 – gives us more chances to try to win the game.”
