Dylan Borrero Poised to be New England's "Second Playmaker"
Dylan Borrero Poised to be New England's "Second Playmaker"
"I don't think it is a coincidence when he and Carles [Gil] left, we were not quite as fluid."
Dylan Borrero was amongst a bevy of New England Revolution players to make their return after stints on the sidelines against CF Montreal. It is clear that he will play a crucial part in the club’s playoff push.
Borrero played 24 minutes and tallied an assist while completing 11 of his 13 pass attempts. His speed and skill was on display as he bolted up and down the wing.
After a lengthy absence after suffering a torn ACL in 2023, Borrero made his first appearance of the season in the Revs’ match against Inter Miami at the end of April. He featured for New England up until July 3rd and ended up missing the entirety of Leagues Cup.
With the acquisition of Luca Langoni, Borrero seemed to be facing some pressure to perform as he is entering an option year in 2025. New England already has Tomas Chancalay along with youngster Esmir Bajraktarevic. Oh and who could forget Nacho Gil.
Winger is possibly the deepest position on New England’s roster but Borrero still appears to be in head coach Caleb Porter’s plans considering his praise of the Colombian.
“A special player,” Porter said of Borrero. “He [Borrero] becomes, kind of, our second playmaker. When I like to shape my teams, I like a stretch guy and a pocket guy. Again, we had that good run of form where we won four games in a row and Dylan was in. I don't think it is a coincidence when he and Carles [Gil] left, we were not quite as fluid.”
Anytime you are mentioned in the same notion as Gil, you know you must be doing something right. New England’s captain praised Borrero for working hard to return to the pitch and his effort in the drubbing of Montreal.
“Obviously, he's very important for us,” Gil said. “He had some injuries in the past and it's never easy, but he worked hard.”
Borrero brings pace and flair that a player such as Bajraktarevic simply hasn’t developed. While the Bosnian is known for his nutmegs and ball control, he can’t blow by defenders the same way Borrero can. The Colombian can strike fear in his opponent while Bajraktarevic can be scoffed at by MLS veterans who are ready to chomp down the latest and greatest Gen-Z star looking to add to their highlight reel.
The 22-year-old has played across the greatest footballing country for Atlético Mineiro where football is a way of life not just a sport. That environment produces a style of play that Wisconsin simply does not.
But one game is simply 90 minutes of soccer. While careers can be made and status secured over the course of one match, that is not the case for New England and Borrero.
They will need to show that the match against Montreal was no fluke. Borrero will need to show that he can stay healthy and perform at a consistent basis. There’s no doubt he will have a highlight reel play every match but he needs to show he can make an impact on the score sheet and in the standings with his performance week in and week out.
If not, the 2024 season could be his last in New England as a crowded locker room is trimmed down to the true vision of what Curt Onalfo and Porter want their roster to be.