Vrioni on Porter: "He’s Giving Me Consistency"

Giacomo Vrioni has five goals in four games, including two braces.

Photo Courtesy of J. Alexander Dolan

Giacomo Vrioni continued his hot streak on Wednesday by collecting two goals in the New England Revolution’s 2-1 win over Atlanta United.

Vrioni’s first goal came in the 11th minute after a well-weighted pass from DeJuan Jones. The 25-year-old megged a defender before putting the ball in the back of the net.

Vrioni struck again in the 45th minute when he got on the end of a Noel Buck cross. The back-post finish gave the home team a two-goal lead at the break.

The striker has five goals in the last four games, including two braces.

Head coach Caleb Porter spoke highly of Wednesday’s tallies, calling them “a couple of great goals.” He also likes that Vrioni scored four days after missing some chances.

“[Vrioni] had two goals [against FC Cincinatti] and then last game [against the Columbus Crew], he should have scored three or four, but his mentality now to bounce back was very good,” head coach Caleb Porter said. “We hadn't seen that out of him. He had gone periods where it's three, four or five games where he wasn't scoring. So, for me, to see his mentality in this game, to shrug off last game and missing some chances to now find two goals, I thought was excellent and a big part of us winning the game.”

Vrioni arrived in New England midway through the 2022 season. He contributed one goal in seven appearances (two starts) while battling an injury.

Last year, the Designated Player had six goals and two assists in 29 appearances (13 starts).

This year, he leads the Revs in goals, scoring seven in 18 games (17 starts). He also has one assist.

“You know, a lot of it is psychological,” Porter said. “A striker – actually, any player – needs to know you trust and that you’re going to have faith in them. I think he has felt that belief from us and we’ve stuck with him. I think that's really key.

“He likes our ideas. He likes the way we play. He knows that he can fit our system.”

Porter has expressed support for Vrioni throughout his tenure as Revolution head coach. The attacker has looked to repay this trust through his performances.

“We have a new coach with a new system, with new ideas,” Vrioni said. “So, everyone had to adapt to this. We needed time. We followed him because, in the end, he’s a winner. He won two MLS Cups. So, we are happy to have him here.

“He’s giving me consistency, which is the most important thing for a player. I’m happy to have him here because he has a good mentality. We have to pay him [back] on the field.”

While Vrioni always aims to get on the scoresheet, he also has other responsibilities. He’s the first defender when the opponent has the ball and a target when the Revs are looking to build.

As a lone striker, Vrioni is constantly battling defenders. On Wednesday, he won 10 of 15 duels and drew four fouls.

“We work a lot on his holdup play,” Porter said. “He's gotten much better in that. We talk a lot about how he can be a base and play into him. So, I think that style of play has helped him develop and we work on it a lot.

“That’s probably been the biggest improvement, is just he is becoming a warrior in the air and being strong and battling guys. When I watched him last year on film, he'd fall on the ground and he wasn't using his body right, and he was a bit light. Now he looks strong.

“The other thing he’s improved on is just his mentality. He’s becoming a goal scorer.”

Vrioni explained that he works hard every day “to have consistency, discipline.” Holdup play is one of the things he’s been looking to hone.

“[Porter] mentioned [holdup play] because it’s a thing I’m working on,” Vrioni said. “It’s important, getting body, feel the presence there. In the end, if you want to be a good striker, you have to do everything. This is what separates from good striker, great striker, normal striker, you know?"

“So I’m trying to stay every day with [assistant coach] Pablo Moreira. That’s my guy, the striker coach. I’m working a lot with him on finishing and holdup play and everything. I will continue to practice and work on this.”

There’s been a lot of pressure on Vrioni since he joined the Revs. While some would shy away from this, he’s embraced it.

“I like this idea, to have weight [on my shoulders] because you become more mature,” Vrioni said.