MLS Regular Season | Match #24
New England Revolution at CF Montréal
Saturday, August 24 | 7:30 p.m. ET
Stade Saputo | Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Watch: FREE on Apple TV
English Talent: Joe Tolleson (play-by-play), Greg Sutton (analyst)
Spanish Talent: Moises Linares (play-by-play), Pablo Marino (analyst)
French Talent: Frederic Lord (play-by-play), Vincent Destouches (analyst)
Listen: 98.5 The Sports Hub (English) 1260 AM Nossa Radio (Portuguese)
English Talent: Brad Feldman (play-by-play), Charlie Davies (analyst)
CURRENT FORM
New England Revolution
15th in Eastern Conference (7-14-2, 23 pts.)
Last Result (Leagues Cup) | 1-1 draw vs. NYCFC (7-6 loss in PKs)
Last Result (MLS) | 1-1 draw vs. FC Dallas
After weeks of anticipation and a much-needed break, the stretch run is finally here for New England. There’s no hiding the fact that the season has been a difficult one, marred most recently by an injury crisis that took a number of key players out of contention. But with 11 games still to play and only five points separating the Revs from a playoff spot, head coach Caleb Porter is confident that his team will be playing postseason soccer this year.
Despite the injuries the team has faced, many of the Revolution’s young players and depth pieces have truly brought the fight over the last couple months, and New England will resume league play on a four-game unbeaten run (1-0-3) in all competitions stretching back to their last MLS game at the end of July. And now that just about everyone is back in training for the Revs, Porter has said he has already seen the squad take things to another level during the week, and he expects to see more of the same on the weekend.
CF Montréal
11th in Eastern Conference (6-10-9, 27 pts.)
Last Result (Leagues Cup) | 2-0 loss at Philadelphia Union
Last Result (MLS) | 1-0 loss vs. Toronto FC
After splitting their two group stage matches, CF Montréal bowed out of Leagues Cup 2024 in the Round of 32 with a 2-0 loss to eventual semifinalists Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park. Their victory over Liga MX side Atlético San Luis was their second of only two wins out of the seven matches they played in the month of July, the other being a 1-0 home victory over a 10-man Atlanta United.
Consistency has been hard to come by for Montréal this season. They are yet to string together more than two league wins in a row at any point this year, while going as many as seven straight games without a win at their worst. As the Revs have seen this season, though, anything can happen in a single game of soccer, and struggling teams in particular can play with a desperation that makes them unpredictable and challenging.
KEY PLAYERS
Revolution midfielder Carles GilA full participant in training since the end of last week, Carles Gil is back in action after a calf injury kept him sidelined since late June. Porter has cautioned that Gil and others returning from injury will need time to return to full match fitness, but it’s no secret that a talent like Gil can change a game at any moment.
Porter has not been shy to point out that Gil’s last involvement saw the team beat defending Supporters’ Shield winners FC Cincinnati on the road to make it four wins in a row, and said he expects the team to return to the level of that run when Gil and other starters are all back to full strength. This final stretch of the season could also see Carles further cement his historic impact on the club, as he is within touching distance of club legend Steve Ralston’s records for assists in both the MLS regular season (73) and in all competitions (82), trailing by just three and two helpers, respectively.
Montréal forward Josef MartínezSpeaking of legends, just about any MLS fan can speak to the impact that Josef Martínez has had on the league during his tenure. With 110 goals already under his belt at only 31 years of age, the Venezuelan has perhaps slowed down a tick by his high standards, recording five goals and three assists so far this campaign.
Off the field, Martínez was the center of some controversy last week, when Montréal coach Laurent Courtois told reporters that the striker’s attitude had not been in line with the person he had gotten to know before signing him. However, the Frenchman has since clarified that any internal matter between the two has been resolved, and with the confirmation that he will be available for selection this weekend, Martínez will surely be looking to focus on playing his best soccer and reminding everyone why he was brought in at the start of this season.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Revolution head coach Caleb Porter on the team’s energy in training as they prepared for the final stretch:
“Yeah, [it’s] good. We signed a couple guys; we've got a bunch of guys back healthy. The level went up. It was a massive shift today in terms of the level, where it went, just with the quality that we had back in training. Guys have been working really hard, I've said it. But in terms of attacking quality, there was definitely a noticeable difference today and it makes everybody have to work harder and perform. We've got some tough decisions on the weekend in terms of not only who starts, but who comes off the bench. Most of the guys that are back healthy won’t be available to start, but I'm hoping they are all available off the bench. Then, obviously next week as we move on and get more training time, there will be some tough decisions for starting. It's great. It's a good problem to have, when you have tough decisions. There will be some guys that played major roles in the last four games that won't dress. That's just where it's at on numbers and the quality that we have coming back into the team.”
Porter on the team’s intent to push for playoff qualification with this final run:
“We're healthy finally, and the level was very good today, so we'll continue to push in training. Every game is a cup final, these last 11 [games]. We’re going to go for it. Obviously, our goal is to take it one at a time and win every game. We probably won't win every game. We don't need to win every game to probably get in, but that's going to be our mindset, to win every game. If we don't win, we can't get down. We just have to go on to the next. We’ve got to win our home games. That's going to be really important. We know we have a lot of road games as well, and if we can win our home games, and then win half the road games, then I think we'll be in good shape.”
Porter on the mentality heading into Saturday’s match away to Montréal needing points:
“I think we’ve been pretty good on the road this year. We’ve gotten some big wins. In fact, some of our best wins this year have been on the road. Obviously, Cincinnati comes to mind, Nashville. Those are two big wins that we had. We try not to change a ton home or away. When you really think about it, why would it change? You’ve got different fans, but I think sometimes people overthink that. We do make little adjustments, for sure, but yeah, we don’t want to go on the road and just sit in all game. That’s not the right thing to do to win a game. We’ll do what we always do – come up with a plan based on what we know about Montreal. Like every game we play, we’ll put out a plan to win the game.”
Revolution midfielder Carles Gil on the team nearing full strength as players return from injury:
“It’s key for us. Obviously, it was very difficult in the past losing important players. I think the guys who played in these last two months did a very good job. Many guys coming from the second team helped us a lot. That’s never easy. But obviously, it’s very important to have the full team. Also, for training to be competitive, the guy who is starting knows that he needs to perform if he wants to continue playing. I think it’s very important. Hopefully, we can be healthy in these 11 games and when we’re all together and healthy, we’re a very good team.”
Gil on returning from his own injury in time to lead the team through the playoff push:
“I was injured the last two months, and it was very hard for me because I don’t like to lose games. Even in our situation, difficult situations. I have to be on the pitch, and I worked very hard for [the injury] to not happen again. I think it’s also very important for me to show that I’m ready to lead the team, with all my teammates. It’s not easy but we can do it, we can make the playoffs. If we can make the playoffs, it’s another history, you know? Sometimes, it’s more important the way that you finish the season. We had an example last year. We had a very good first half of the season, the second half was very difficult. In the end, we didn’t play well in the playoffs. We have that on our minds and obviously, I will try to help the team.”
Revolution winger Luca Langoni on joining training for the first time this week:
“Truthfully, I was very excited to train with the team. It was an intense session. I was just excited to get to know my teammates. It was a great [training session].”
Langoni on where he feels most comfortable playing on the field:
“Normally, I play on the right side or with freedom in the middle as a double forward. I feel comfortable there, as a double forward, looking for the spaces. But I think I can play wherever the technical staff needs me to play.”
Langoni on the Revolution paying a club-record transfer fee to acquire him:
“I’m very thankful for everyone in the front office who supported me. I’m very thankful for that. I approach it calmly, with excitement and humility. I will try to fight and give the best version of me.”
