FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Nine players have joined the New England Revolution since head coach Brad Friedel took charge last November, and each week those players have justified Friedel’s faith.
The latest signing, Colombian midfielder Luis Caicedo, came to New England in mid-March and his impact has been immediate. With just six games under his belt (five starts), Caicedo has proven to be the type of young, fit and committed player that Friedel envisions using to build a squad that he can leverage in the long run.
“Luis is small in stature, (but) he’s got to be one of the strongest players in this league.” Friedel said about the 21-year-old. “There are not many people that can muscle him off the ball, there’s not many people that can run him down.”
Caicedo’s pace and confidence were on display in last weekend’s 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City. In one particular instance he outran Yohan Croizet over a 70-yard sprint to get into the box, and was almost taken down for a penalty. With a bold personality and the skills to back it, Caicedo is the type of player anyone would want to play alongside.
“I love him. From day one he’s shown that he’s willing to work hard and he’s willing to do the dirty work,” said defender Jalil Anibaba, who plays on the backline behind Caicedo. “But not only that, he provides quality on the ball. He gets himself in dangerous spots. He’s been a huge asset for us. I love him. He’s great to play behind and I’m happy that he’s with the squad.”
Speed is a coveted trait in Friedel’s system, and Caicedo combines his pace with skill and ambition to form a lethal combination.
“He disheartens players that he plays against, because they just see how fit and quick he is,” said Friedel. “He’s also very good on the ball and he’s another one that is immersing himself in our culture very, very well. He wants to do well. Great, bubbly character, with an engine that just doesn’t stop.
“He’s been another very, very good addition to the club, to the team, to the area and I’m sure he’ll continue to impress the fans each and every time he plays.”
