New England Revolution Looking to Turn Season Around Against Inter Miami

“Sometimes you need something special to change everything."

Photo By John McGloughlin

The New England Revolution have had a horrid start to the 2024 MLS regular season and a matchup against Inter Miami looks like a match that will dump salt into New England’s early season wounds.

But anything can happen in sports. The most obvious example of this is Leicester City winning the 2016 English Premier League championship after starting the season with 5000-1 odds to lift the trophy.

If the Revolution are to beat Miami they will need a similar miracle. But it could turn their season around.

“Sometimes you need something special to change everything,” New England’s captain Carles Gil said. “We know we will have many fans tomorrow in a game against a big team, against [Lionel] Messi. I think it’s a good point for us to win a game. Obviously, it will be very difficult, and we need to do many things well to get the three points.”

While head coach Caleb Porter also thinks this could be a season-altering match for the Revolution, Porter also thinks the club can gain some new fans with a positive performance Saturday evening.

“I think it's an opportunity for us to use this spotlight and gain fans,” the coach said. “For the casual fan who doesn't always come to New England Revolution matches, to capture interest. That's really important. But also, for our season, yeah, it could jumpstart our season a little bit and be a catapult game.”

Part of the reason for New England’s struggles is that the club is adjusting to a new style of play. One that appears more strict and less free-flowing than the “Bruce-Ball” that was played under Bruce Arena.

While some observers might think that Porter is being too rigid, Gil feels it is still too early to cast judgements on the new style of play.

“It’s a little early, just eight games,” the captain said. “We didn’t have many [full] weeks because we had many games with the Concacaf Champions Cup. We’re still working on everything with the ball, without the ball. Sometimes it’s easier when you win games, and you don’t have that pressure. Sometimes when you know you’re at the bottom, you want to do things where it’s not the [right] moment. Maybe first we need to get some wins and then start to play the way we want or start to play the way we want. Obviously, it’s a little difficult when you’re at the bottom of the league.”

All eyes will be on New England. Will they prove to the rest of the league that the 2024 season is as good as over or will they give fans a sliver of hope?