Carles Gil Explains Why Bruce Arena Deserves Credit For New England Revolution’s Success: ‘He’s a Winner’

When Carles Gil joined the New England Revolution in 2019, the move was a bit of a renovation project for both. Revolution has not qualified for the knockout stages of Major League Soccer since 2016 while Gil is going through a disappointing season with Deportivo de La Coruña, in which he played just 18 games. There may be multiple paths to the MLS, but Gil to New England has been a symbiotic relationship since day 1. It was a risk for Gil because he didn’t understand the league well beyond what he was given to others. speak. But it turned out to be a worthwhile risk to a career that needed a fresh start.

Gil announced his arrival in the MLS in a big way, scoring 10 goals and assisting 12 more in the league. Talk to Luis Miguel Echegaray on ¡Qué Golazo! audio file, Gil talked about how his arrival wasn’t the only catalyst behind Revolution’s improvements when Bruce Arena arrived two months into the team.

“Many things have changed,” Gil said. “The mentality when Bruce arrived, he was a winner. He was a legend here. He tried to instill his winning mentality in the team. The club is improving every year. [and] we have better players and more fans in the stadium [every day]. Hopefully, we continue like this. “

The addition of winning mentality from Arena is very important. It changed everything and quickly. In the last two games under Brad Friedel, Revolution conceded 11 goals and scored just one. Arena made an immediate impact as the team lost just three more games in the entire 2018-19 season en route to a playoff berth. While the Revolution was defeated by Atlanta United in the first round, the seeds of growth were planted. Another change under Arena is the fact that Gil is given the captain’s armband, indicating that this is their team.

The 2020 season, abbreviated as pandemic, was shortened further due to Gil’s injury and the team struggled in difficult conditions, but after they limped into the knockout stages, Gil was fit and featured. of the five goals that resulted in a failure to appear in the semi-finals. The Revolution lost to eventual MLS Cup winner, the Columbus Crew, but Arena’s influence on the team couldn’t be clearer. It was truly a classic Arena season when a team got punched in the mouth, came back and continued a hot streak and that semi-final set the stage for what’s to come this season.

Gil said of the state of the team: “I always try to help my team win. I’m happy, I had a bit of a tough injury but I think this year we have shown we are a team. We are a team. had an injury. [and] The international holidays but the team always feels the same, we continue to win games. We don’t care who’s playing [at] moment, we win the game [anyway]. “

And they won. The Revs broke the MLS single-season scoring record with 73 points. Gil ended the season as an MVP finalist with four goals and 11 assists, while Matt Turner and Tajon Buchanan burst onto the scene in the league and international arena. This year is a sign that a project is coming but it is important to note that they are not yet complete.

“Give me [the playoffs are] another competition. We did the hardest part because you play everyone in the regular season. It’s a game now and if you lose you go home. One bad moment and you come home. So you need to focus more. Playing at home is very good for us. We will try to win because we want to win everything this year.”

Gil will be hoping that this confidence will continue so that New England can be the first team since Toronto FC in 2018 to win the Supporters Shield and the MLS Cup. Overall, both tournaments are tied meaning the hottest team to reach the knockout stages also win the MLS Cup but with Revolution’s talent, they have a very good chance of scoring a double.

If they win it will depend on their captain’s performance but he got the job done.

Go ¡Qué Golazo! Youtube Channel to catch up with the rest of the interview as Gil talks about football culture in Boston and his time at Aston Villa.