FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – It’s time for the New England Revolution to escape the snow once again.
So long as the storm which is expected to hit the Northeast this weekend doesn’t alter their travel plans, the Revs are slated for a return to Arizona on Sunday evening. This time they’ll head to Tucson, where they’ll spend two weeks participating in the Desert Diamond Cup for a fourth straight year.
While the recent 10-day stay in Casa Grande was designed to rebuild a fitness base, the trip to Tucson will be more focused on the four tournament matches as the Revs gear up for their regular season opener on March 8 at CenturyLink Field against Seattle Sounders FC.
“We’ve looked at [preseason] in phases,” said head coach Jay Heaps. “The first part in Casa Grande was really good for getting everyone back on the same page. We’ve had a good week here (in Foxborough) in terms of continuing to build the fitness levels.
“Now I think we’re in the final stages of game preparation and getting ready for the season. We’re excited to get out there, get out of the weather here and get to a place where we’re comfortable.”
New England will play three games against MLS opposition as part of the DDC – against Real Salt Lake (Feb. 18), the Colorado Rapids (Feb. 21) and Seattle (Feb. 25) – with a fourth match against a yet-to-be-determined opponent set for Feb. 28.
While results are still secondary when compared to other objectives like gaining fitness and sharpness, New England’s core players will start to see increased minutes as the season draws near.
“This trip is more geared toward the start of the season,” said Charlie Davies. “As much as we’re playing these games to get more fit and get the chemistry down, everyone’s looking forward to Seattle on March 8. It’s basically trying to get sharp and be prepared for that game.”
With national team duties complete, Nguyen and Fagundez set to re-join Revs
Two players who’ve thus far been absent from the Revolution’s preseason camp are set to join the club in Tucson, as both Lee Nguyen and Diego Fagundez recently wrapped up national team duties.
Nguyen made a pair of substitute appearances with the U.S. National Team during the annual January camp, while Fagundez made four appearances (two starts) as the Uruguay Under-20 side finished third in the South American Youth Championships and booked a spot in this summer’s U-20 World Cup.
Both wrapped up with their respective national teams last weekend, but were given this week off to recover before returning to training with the Revs in Arizona.
“Those guys spent some really good time with their national teams getting some good training in,” Heaps said. “But they didn’t have nearly the offseason that the other players had, so they needed this week to recover. I think both players are excited to get back and we’re excited to have them.”
Agudelo adjusting to life in New England … and as a new father
While most of his Revolution teammates returned to Foxborough from Casa Grande last Friday, Juan Agudelo didn’t arrive in New England until earlier this week – but for good reason. The 22-year-old traveled to Texas to be with his fiancée for the birth of their first child, a daughter named Cataleya.
Agudelo will now adjust to life as a father as he continues to readjust to life in New England, but considering his previous spell with the Revolution, it’s been a smooth transition both on and off the field.
“Just because he’s been here before, there’s that familiarity,” said Heaps. “The player overall has a really good understanding of what we want from him. Relationships within the group are always important and that’s what’s been seamless.
“He just had a baby and he’s getting back into what we need from him, but we still have a ways to go in terms of getting him up to where everyone is from a fitness standpoint.”
Agudelo and Davies both provide versatile options in New England’s attack
One question raised by the signing of Agudelo is what exactly the move means for Charlie Davies.
Davies settled into a starting role midway through last season and was a key player in the Revolution’s run to MLS Cup, scoring four goals in the postseason while operating as the target striker in New England’s three-pronged forward line.
Agudelo is also ideally skilled to operate as the target man, but his arrival doesn’t necessarily mean that he and Davies are only in competition for one spot.
Both players have spent time in the Revolution’s system playing on the wing, and Heaps hinted that certain situations will dictate whether Agudelo or Davies is deployed in a wide position.
“Not only can they play different positions, but you also want to have different looks,” said Heaps. “I think both Charlie and Juan bring completely different elements to the game as a center forward, and both of them bring a different look on the wing, as well.
“For us it’s going to be game by game and what’s best for the team going into that match.”
