Porter Praises Revolution Unity After 1-0 Win Over Charlotte
“You see how tight the unit is, the unity, the mentality to protect each other."
New England Revolution head coach Caleb Porter noted that Saturday’s 1-0 win over Charlotte FC required a full-team effort.
The Revs handed Charlotte their first home loss of the season after Carles Gil, who has four goals and one assist in 2025, scored a late game winner.
Porter called it “another special play” by the Designated Player. He then added that everyone had a role in getting three points in a difficult venue.
“It took everybody that started the game and all the subs that came into the game,” Porter said. “Even Maxi Urruti who basically ran doggies for five straight minutes to try to get the win. That shows how much of a team guy he is.
“I thought Luca [Langoni] and Tomas [Chancalay] came in and gave us a little spice in the match. Will Sands and Brandon [Bye] locked it down for us, so the subs were key as well. For me, again, it was a team effort. I’m super proud of the group.”
With only three names on the latest injury report, the Revs are relatively healthy, giving Porter plenty of options. This creates competition.
“We’re creating a very special environment where there’s so much competition,” Porter said. “What ends up happening when you have competition is there’s a real fight for the [starting] 11. You have to play well to be in the 11. You have to play well in games and get results and perform in the games or you don’t stay in the 11.
“And then the group that comes into the game, there’s a lot of tension for them to do well. Especially when we’re up a goal, right, none of those guys want to be the one that makes a mistake. When you have players with a strong mentality they don’t shrink in that moment, they grow. That’s what I’m seeing right now.”
Langoni, a U22 Initiative Player, and Chancalay, a DP returning from injury, came into the game in the 68th and 73rd minutes. Langoni helped break the deadlock when he assisted Gil’s goal.
Sands, Bye, and Urruti also came off the bench to help the Revs collect their fourth win in five games.
“We’ve consistently subbed [Sands and Bye] in to lock the game down,” Porter said. “It would be easy for those guys to pout and be upset that they’re not playing, and then go into the game and not have the right attitude. But we’re getting the exact opposite. Luca Langoni’s the same, Chancalay. All these guys went into the game, and we don’t win that game without the subs tonight.”
Porter used a moment from the 70th minute to highlight the unity within the team.
Brandt Bronico had just received a yellow card for fouling Gil. While Bronico walked away, Wilfried Zaha came over to bicker with the Revs players who were setting up the free kick.
Soon, players from both sides were involved in a skirmish.
“For me, the key moment of the match was when the fight kicked off and you just saw all our guys were in it,” Porter said. “You see how tight the unit is, the unity, the mentality to protect each other.
“I thought you saw Mamadou’s [Fofana] personality come out. We weren’t going to back down. Brayan [Ceballos], Tanner [Beason], and Aljaž [Ivačič], those guys are animals at the back. Their personalities are starting to come out more and more.”
Tanner Beason stated that moments like that show cohesion.
“In those little moments, even though the actual incident is never really a big deal or anything, you see the response from the team,” Beason said. “You see the commitment we have to one other and the care we show for one another in those moments. Not only that, but just the general competitive energy, and that was good to see.
“I think [it was] a little bit of a galvanizing moment for us in the game to kind of reenergize us for the rest of it.”
The Revs are on a positive run of form after starting the season 0-3-1. Porter used an adage from the Patriots to summarize why the team is playing well right now.
“Everybody is doing their job right now,” Porter said. “You guys know that quote, obviously. Everyone is doing their job really well right now.”
Yes, Porter is definitely riding high now, and he's got a very strong defensive approach organized that is garnering impressive results.
On the other hand, it's a very strong defensive approach - hard to watch. The winning goals have been gifts from capricious randomness, and they have been singletons.
Revs are good at one-touching the all around, but not much on controlling play or creatively attacking. Charlotte was by far the more entertaining team.