New Revs Center Backs Excited to Work With Caleb Porter

“It has been super. [Porter] is a great guy. He has made me feel really good in these recent days and weeks in training."

Photo By J. Alexander Dolan

Caleb Porter might not have impressed New England Revolution fans in his debut season with the club but players are excited to play under the two-time MLS Cup winner.

Repeating isn’t required, so I’ll just say that New England was one of the worst teams in MLS in 2024. The Revs missed the playoffs and were at the bottom of the Eastern Conference table only bested (or worsted?) by the Chicago Fire.

But entering the 2025 season, New England looks a lot different. Curt Onalfo and Porter have molded the roster to their desire and appear to be in a much better position than they were in 2024.

While Leo Campana is the acquisition that is widely regarded as the best that New England made during the offseason, the most important could be who appear to be the Revs two starting center backs.

If Mamadou Fofana and Brayan Ceballos can play to their ability, New England’s back line will be much stronger than it was in 2024. Both players have European experience and have been regarded by Porter for their athleticism and ability on the ball.

The respect goes both ways as Fofana and Ceballos both praised their head coach when speaking to the media for the first time since being acquired.

“It has been super. [Porter] is a great guy. He has made me feel really good in these recent days and weeks in training,” Ceballos said. “We’ve talked a lot. He has shared the characteristics that he likes about me. He asks me to keep being vocal, be a leader in defense, be aggressive, be competitive, among other things. He has helped me and guided me a lot in every training and game to implement what he wants from us as a team.”

Fofana noted that he also has started to build a great relationship with the head coach.

“Before I came here, I spoke with him and he explained to me what he wants me to do,” the Malian center back said. “So, now I am here and all day we speak to each other and he tells me what he wants, and I try to do this. But yes, we have a great relationship and I hope we will continue like this.”

Fofana and Ceballos have the pedigree to be a quality center back pairing. Considering the Revs had a goal differential of -37, their inclusion could tip the scales for New England and get them from the bootom of the East into playoff contention.

Their success as well as the success of the Revs will fall on Porter’s shoulders. After the struggles of 2024, New England will need to get off to a hot start unless the head coach will be on the hot seat.

But Revs players are excited to work with Porter and hope has sprung in New England. With a fresh-faced squad could Porter imitate his success with the COlumbus Crew and bring the Revolution an MLS Cup fans so desparetly desire?

That remains to be seen but Porter will have the opportunity to show what he is truly capable of in 2025.