FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Wilfried Zahibo made something of a tenuous first impression on New England Revolution fans when he was sent off just nine minutes into his preseason debut, but since that unfortunate introduction in mid-February, the 24-year-old central midfielder has gone a long way in winning the hearts of the Foxborough faithful.
Zahibo is one of two field players to have played every minute of the Revs’ first five games – along with Andrew Farrell – and he’s contributed in every way imaginable. His team-best three assists and first MLS goal stand out on the score sheet, but it’s other, less quantifiable contributions that have made Zahibo a central figure in the Revs’ current four-game unbeaten run (3-0-1).
Chief amongst Zahibo’s influence is his ability to serve as the link between defense and attack, taking the ball off the backline and finding New England’s playmakers in advantageous positions.
“He’s always giving guys an option to play out of the back,” said goalkeeper Matt Turner. “He’s done a really good job linking our back four to the rest of the team … Also, he’s committed to defending. He wins tackles and helps us, and can bail us out of a couple tough spots.”
That commitment to defending has served the physically imposing Zahibo well, as he’s currently tied for third in MLS in tackles (22), seventh in duels won (48) and 14th in aerial duels won (15).
Those efforts have helped the Revs keep back-to-back clean sheets against the Houston Dynamo and Montreal Impact, all while Zahibo has continued to contribute in the attacking third.
“Wilfried’s an outstanding player, and it’s good that he’s starting to show that in MLS,” head coach Brad Friedel said of Zahibo, who spent time in Spain and France before joining the Revs. “He’s going to get better and better. He’s still a young player. He works very, very hard, and it’s not surprising to us that he’s doing well.”
The sentiment that Zahibo is still improving is shared by his teammates. Claude Dielna said he’s a sponge, always absorbing new information, while Jalil Anibaba believes that as Zahibo further settles into his new surroundings, he’ll reach another level.
“He’s a very important player,” Dielna said of Zahibo. “He can play, he’s very athletic, and he listens a lot. When I talk to him, he listens, and this is good. This kind of player and the quality of the player is good for the team.”
“I think he’s just scratching the surface right now,” said Anibaba. “He’s shown very well in the first [five] matches so far. I was happy for him to get his first MLS goal. It’s always good to get one under your belt early in the season.
“I think he has a lot more to give, and that’s amazing to even consider.”
