FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Five fresh faces have already joined the New England Revolution since the close of the 2018 season and more are likely on the way ahead of the new campaign, but it’s a player who arrived late last year that could prove to be one of the most important pieces of the 2019 squad.
Michael Mancienne featured in 10 of the final 11 games last season after joining the Revs via free transfer from Nottingham Forest in early August, and while he already has 900 minutes of MLS action under his belt, it feels a bit like he’s starting anew as he kicks off his first full season in Foxborough.
“It’s really difficult when you go into a new league, especially after you’ve gone through a preseason where you didn’t get to play too many games and you get thrust into games straightaway,” said head coach Brad Friedel. “The last four or five games … you started to see what Michael is about. He started to become very comfortable with the players. Michael will be a very good asset for us.”
“Obviously it’s better to come in at the start because you can build as a team, work on how you want to play the season, your goals for the season, what you want to achieve,” said Mancienne. “It’s better to be here at the start, get to know everyone better, especially the new players, and build a bond.”
Mancienne admitted that it was a challenge to go straight into matches just days after arriving last season, and he also noted that Major League Soccer’s strenuous travel demands took some adjusting, as he’d never before experienced one-game trips that span thousands of miles and multiple time zones.
But 2019 is a fresh start for Mancienne, who stepped into preseason from day one in a familiar city, and a familiar locker room, with familiar coaches and familiar teammates. He knows his surroundings, he knows what’s expected of him, and he knows what to expect of the league.
“Obviously it’s one of the goals to be as high as possible in the league, and I think we can achieve that this year,” said Mancienne. “We’ve got a good group of boys. We’ve just got to work hard during preseason and get things right.”
It’s not just on the field and in the locker room that Mancienne feels more settled; the 31-year-old has been joined in the U.S. by his wife Libbi and the couple’s four-month-old son, Noah. Whereas last year Mancienne was on the American journey by himself, this year he’ll have the support of his family.
That could make all the difference for a player who’ll be looked upon as a leader – and, potentially, a captain – in the heart of the Revolution’s defense as they aim for a return to the postseason for the first time since 2015.
“I’m excited,” said Mancienne. “I’m really looking forward to the challenge, playing more games, and hopefully making the playoffs and winning cups and trophies, like we should be doing.”
