FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Several players will be making their postseason debuts when the New England Revolution visit Atlanta United FC in the first round of the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs next weekend at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but that doesn’t mean the Revs will be lacking experience.
Bruce Arena, the winningest coach in MLS playoff history, has more than enough of that to go around.
“He’s been there. He’s done it multiple times. He understands what kind of locker room there needs to be in order to win championships,” said Juan Agudelo, one of seven players on the roster with previous playoff experience. “He’s making all of us understand that and gain that experience through him.”
In a long and storied MLS coaching career that began by leading D.C. United to the first MLS Cup title in 1996, Arena has amassed 32 playoff victories and five MLS Cup titles, both tops in league history. His most recent title came in 2014 when he led the LA Galaxy to an extra-time win over the Revolution.
Arena is also one of just two head coaches to have won MLS Cup titles in back-to-back years – along with Dominic Kinnear – and he’s done it twice, in both 1996-97 and 2011-12.
While those previous postseason runs will prove invaluable for Arena as he prepares his side for a visit to the defending champs, they’re also helpful for the players, who feel at ease knowing that the messages their head coach is driving home are borne from experience
“It obviously brings a sense of calm,” said Jalil Anibaba, who has now reached the MLS Cup Playoffs with five different clubs. “When your leadership is on point and you can put full faith in the leadership, it’s amazing. It allows us more peace of mind in terms of what we’re trying to do on a daily basis.”
That sense of calm permeates directly from Arena, who brings that even-keeled demeanor onto the training ground and into the locker room regardless of what’s at stake on the weekend.
What’s at stake next Saturday is a spot in the Eastern Conference semifinals, as MLS’ new single-elimination playoff format has upped the ante on every individual game. New England will enter that do-or-die contest full of confidence, due in part to Arena’s influence.
“His experience, the way he carries himself in the team meetings, team talks – it just really brings a sense of confidence amongst the group,” said Scott Caldwell, who started each of the Revs’ last six playoff matches in 2014 and 2015. “We’re looking forward to next week.”
