FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Just about a month out from his most recent MLS appearance, Revolution defender Will Sands is excited to be working his way back from a leg injury that has been keeping him out of the club’s matchday squad. The outside back had been getting his Revs career off to a promising start since joining in the summer before hitting this speedbump, and now he’s back in training ahead of what may be the two most difficult fixtures of New England’s season, the first of which will hold a special significance for him.
Sands was acquired in July via trade with the Columbus Crew, and it just so happens that the Revs travel to Columbus this weekend for a late-season showdown with the Black and Gold – Sands’ first opportunity to face the club that gave him his first MLS contract. Of course, any trip to match up against the defending MLS Cup champions is going to be a tough one, and Sands said after training on Tuesday that he relished both the test and the reunion of a match against the Crew.
As far as his recovery goes, Sands acknowledged that the process is always tough but said that he was moving right along.
“It’s never fun or easy to be off the field for a while,” he said. “It’s hard work getting back, but as soon as you [can], you put in the fitness with the coaching staff. They’ve done a great job, so I’m just excited to get my feet back under me.”
And in terms of the Columbus connection, the defender had nothing but positive feelings for his old team, something he said actually motivated him to fight even harder now that he would be on the other end of things.
“It’s the team that gave me my first chance,” Sands said, “and a lot of my best friends are on that team. It’s funny, you always want to play your best against your friends, so I’m excited for this game.”
For head coach Caleb Porter, who crossed paths with Sands in Columbus, Saturday’s game will also be a personal first return, this time in a managerial capacity. Unlike Sands, though, the reunion wasn’t front of mind for Porter, who said he appreciated his time with the club but stressed that his full focus was on the Revolution’s present and future.
“I haven’t really thought about it too much,” Porter said of returning to Columbus. “Obviously, I had some good years there. I’m proud of being a part of Campeones Cup and an MLS Cup, put two trophies in the trophy case. The club has been excellent since I left; they’ve gone to a whole other level.
“For me, it’s about my team now, the Revolution, and improving and building for the future,” he added. “I’m still more convinced than ever that we are going to get to where we need to get. The vision doesn’t change. It is not a vision you set for one year, it is a long-term vision … You never know the path it’s going to take and you never know how that’s going to go. It just depends, but I’m never more convinced that we are going to get there.”
Despite a playoff spot being off the table for New England, both Porter and Sands emphasized that there was still plenty to play for in these final two weeks of the season.
“Even though we are out of the playoffs, these next two weeks, nothing changes,” Porter said. “We are going to keep working, keep building, keep growing, keep fighting, and I expect the players to keep playing to a high standard and to keep showing they want to be a part of the future of this club, to be a part of the project, and that they are on board, they are on the bus, and excited for the future.”
And Sands felt much the same. “I don’t think it is any different,” he said. “I think we approach the game, every game, the same way. I think the world of Columbus and I think they are going to bring their best. They are always a fun team to play because they have so much going on, but yeah, I think it’s going to be a good matchup and I’m excited to see where it goes.”
