Revs Hoping That Giacomo Vrioni Continues To Find Goals
Revs Hoping That Giacomo Vrioni Continues To Find Goals
Porter: “Getting that first goal, things seem to now – for players when that happens – slow down in a good way. So hopefully, we can keep building on it."
After scoring in back-to-back games, the New England Revolution are hoping that Giacomo Vrioni continues to find the back of the net.
The striker opened his 2024 account on Mar. 14 when he came off the bench to score against Alajuelense in the Concacaf Champions Cup. Three days later he scored again, this time in a league game against FC Cincinnati.
Head coach Caleb Porter is hoping that this trend continues.
“Confidence is everything,” Porter said. “Getting that first goal, things seem to now – for players when that happens – slow down in a good way. So hopefully, we can keep building on it. I think it's really important. [Vrioni] has put two games now together with a goal and we need a third.”
Porter, who arrived in New England this year, has been supportive of Vrioni.
The 25-year-old attacker, who joined the club midway through 2021, has started all three league games he’s been available for this year.
“It's good [to have the trust of Porter], but I think also the other coaches, they were trusting me, but it's good right now,” Vrioni said. “When you can play and when you can have more minutes, you can create chemistry with the players, with the team, and that's very important in soccer, so that's good.
“And I'm happy to have Caleb because he trusts me a lot, and I like his mentality because he has a winning mentality. I'm happy to be with him.”
Vrioni had a less-than-ideal start to the season as he was sent off against D.C. United after 25 minutes for receiving two yellow cards. The Revs ultimately dropped the season opener by a 3-1 scoreline.
Vrioni, who apologized to his teammates after the game, was asked to reflect on that moment during Thursday’s press conference.
“It was obviously my mistake to leave the team with 10 players throughout the game [at D.C. United],” Vrioni said. “I think at this moment, it's how we learn from this mistake and how you grow up. So now, this is the past and we have to think about the present. That is the most important thing.”
One thing that will help Vrioni as he looks to build on his positive run of form is more time with fellow DPs Carles Gil and Tomas Chancalay. The three attacking players should continue to learn each other’s tendencies with more time on the field.
“I think that chemistry is still building,” Porter said when asked about Vrioni and Chancalay. “I've said it, we haven't had our front four together, game-in and game-out, for very many games.
“Chancalay came midseason last year. I think I counted three games they [Chancalay and Vrioni] played together last year, so that says it all. We've just got to continue to build those connections, that chemistry, and that understanding, and it's hard to do that without training, without watching film, and being able to reflect on the last game and have little conversations.”
Vrioni and the Revolution will play their next game on Saturday when they host the Chicago Fire. The club is aiming for their first league points of the season.
“We are coming from zero points at the end of four [regular season] games, but we are positive,” Vrioni said. “Like I said before, we trust [Porter] and we know that we are a really good team. We are really, really ready to play on Saturday against Chicago in front of our fans.”