BRADENTON, Fla. – The first phase of the New England Revolution’s preseason preparations kicked into high gear on Saturday, when the Revs spent their first full day in the Florida sunshine grinding through a pair of demanding training sessions.
Conditioning continues to be a key component of each session as Head of Fitness Anton McElhone runs the players through their paces, but each exercise is also building towards something bigger, as head coach Brad Friedel incrementally implements his philosophies and approach to the game.
“[It’s] getting them adapted to the style of play that we’re going to play,” Friedel said in between Saturday’s sessions. “Every day is going to have another little element to it. This afternoon, we’ll build on what we did this morning.”
Friedel lamented not having his entire squad as they kicked off their Florida trip, but that’ll be less of an issue in the coming days. Gabriel Somi is scheduled to arrive in Bradenton on Saturday night, while the trio of Juan Agudelo, Cody Cropper and Kelyn Rowe will join the Revs at the conclusion of U.S. National Team camp early next week.
Wilfried Zahibo is still awaiting his U.S. P1-Visa, but the hope is that he’ll be able to join the group soon, as well, and begin the critical process of bonding with his teammates on and off the field.
“We have new faces and a lot of new faces on the staff, so it’s important that the players get to know us as staff members, as well,” Friedel said. “When you’re in an environment all together for longer periods of time, they’ll definitely get to know our personalities a lot more, and I’ll get to know theirs.”
New England will run through double sessions again on Sunday and Monday before dialing it back with a single session on Tuesday, ahead of Wednesday’s preseason opener against the New York Red Bulls, which will provide a first opportunity for Friedel to implement his ideas in a game situation.
“I think a lot of guys are excited with the new ideas that he’s coming in with,” said Brad Knighton. “It’s a lot of new, different techniques and tactics and everything that we’re [getting] accustomed to, since he’s only been here a couple days.
“We’re learning and progressing, and I think we’re going to be better off as a group from it.”
