"Improved" Revs Backline Still Looking To Get Better
Bruce Arena: “Certainly, in the first [six] games, we've been, I think, improved in our backline, although we have a way to go. But it's been a good start to the season.”
The New England Revolution backline has performed well this season, but there are still elements the team is working on.
The Revs already have three clean sheets through six games. The only match where they have allowed more than one goal was the road defeat to LAFC when they conceded four. The game was tight before opening up during the final stanza.
Center back Henry Kessler has played every minute this season alongside Dave Romney. Kessler, who is naturally right-footed, moved to the right to accommodate the left-footed Romney. It’s early days but the returns have been positive.
“It's pretty good,” Kessler said about working with Romney. “I think, generally, if he is stepping, I'm behind him and vice versa. So, we've been covering for each other, and I think we've been pretty solid overall. Obviously, you can still improve, but pretty solid overall.”
Romney has made 30 clearances and five interceptions while completing 84% of his 313 passing attempts.
Meanwhile, Kessler has collected 23 clearances and completed 89% of his 323 passing attempts. The defender also scored the game-winning goal against Charlotte FC.
Kessler’s performances are particularly notable as the fourth-year professional only played in 22 games last season, in part due to injuries. Kessler rejected the notion that last year created extra motivation, saying, “I'm always driven no matter what, and always hungry.”
He did, however, learn some lessons.
“I think last year, it was hard for me to get a rhythm with the injuries, and I think I learned from that,” Kessler said. “So, whether it's doing activation and stuff like that to avoid these injuries, doing prehab or stuff like that, doing even more of that and I do a lot of it to begin with, but I've added to that routine to avoid getting injured and I've done a good job so far. So, I think that was part of it and I feel like I'm in a rhythm now. So, I think that's the biggest difference.”
Kessler, Romney, and the rest of the backline are aided by the players in front of them.
The Revs have regularly used a 4-4-2 formation with Noel Buck (six starts, 471 minutes), Matt Polster (five starts, 450 minutes), and Latif Blessing (three starts, 265 minutes) being regulars in the midfield.
These three, as well as Dylan Borrero, Jack Panayotou, Esmir Bajraktarevic, and more, have done a nice job shielding the back line.
“Whoever has been in front, whether it's Polster, Latif, Noel, I think they've all done a really good job,” Kessler said. “[They are] all active and if you look at the numbers after the game their distance covered is always off the charts. So, they're running a lot in front of us, which makes our job easier.
“And I feel like our pressing has been pretty good because of it. When they can go out and close guys, it allows us to be more aggressive. So, they've done a good job in front of us.”
Head coach Bruce Arena is happy with what his defense has done so far, though he believes there’s room for refinement, saying, “Certainly, in the first [six] games, we've been, I think, improved in our backline, although we have a way to go. But it's been a good start to the season.”
One area where the Revs are looking for improvement is on set pieces. Last week they were forced to settle for a draw after New York City FC scored on a corner kick.
Arena explained the importance of making contact during dead ball situations while speaking to Zolak and Bertrand.
“Size is important, but your positioning and making contact with your opponent is very important,” Arena said. “In soccer, you can make contact with a guy trying to head a ball. We let [Talles] Magno go through free. There should’ve been contact on him, we should have bumped him a little bit. Not doing that, he ends up getting behind that cross so we didn’t do a good job.”
Overall, the Revs are on the right path. When asked to compare this year to last, Kessler noted, “Team-wise, I think we're more cohesive this year.”
The hope is that the Revs defense will remain on point as the chemistry builds.
The team will look to collect their fourth shutout of the season when they host CF Montreal on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 7:30 pm.