FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – As the New England Revolution prepare for the season opener in Nashville this Saturday night (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV), one constant remains amidst all the change: Carles Gil, the reliable team captain and playmaking midfielder. Despite a revamped roster – which has been at the center of preseason buzz – and new key players joining the New England attack, Gil’s leadership on and off the pitch remains a foundational element of the team as they head into this new chapter.
“Carles is massive for us,” said head coach Caleb Porter. “He’s our best player. He’s, in my mind, still one of the best players in the league. I wouldn’t trade him for anyone in the league. There’s obviously some good players that play his same position, but what he does for our team on both sides of the ball is unique.”
Gil is stepping into his seventh season with the Revolution and in his time in Foxborough he has experienced some major highs, like being named MLS MVP in 2021 after leading the team to a Supporters' Shield, getting married, having a baby boy – and the list goes on. As always in soccer, with those highs come the inevitable lows, and as team captain, players look to him in hard times.
“With many new players, I try to help everyone, not just me, but the experienced guys, Andrew [Farrell], Matt [Polster], Brandon [Bye]. We try to help them in everything and try to be leaders in the locker room, especially with a difficult last year,” explained Gil. “It’s also important to start with a good mentality and we try to do that.”
It’s those fresh faces in the locker room that Porter believes will bring out some of Gil’s best soccer. “I think you’re going to see his best quality, too, because we’ve surrounded him with players who I think will help better highlight his abilities,” he said. “I know he looks like a different man this year, as well. He’s a lot happier because he’s got guys around him who he trusts and likes. Football knows football, so he has some good players that have a pretty natural time connecting with him.”
As Gil explained, adjusting to so many fresh faces can be challenging at first, but after spending a month together in Sarasota, he feels confident in the bonds they’ve started to form. “I think we have very good chemistry. Obviously, it’s soon for the group, we are still getting to know each other, but we feel good together,” Gil said. “We had good games in preseason and now we start what we want, we start to compete. First in Nashville and I think we are ready for that.”
The Spaniard has amassed 39 goals, 73 assists, and more than 13,500 minutes in a Revolution jersey. He'll look to increase those numbers this season with a new energy entering the Revolution attack, especially with players like Leo Campana and Ignatius Ganago.
“With them and other players in the attack, I think we have a complete attack and different players, so hopefully we are going to score many goals," Gil said.
Although, for the captain, it’s not just about statistics and chemistry. It's also about joy, both on and off the field.
“It’s important to have a good season because everything goes together. When we are happier, even outside the pitch, is when everything goes right on the pitch,” he explained.
As the Revs take the pitch for the first time this Saturday night in Nashville, the tale of the season ahead will start to reveal itself. With a long road ahead, Gil continues to lead the team one game at a time.
