Revs find success after buying into Friedel’s system

The New England Revolution are undefeated in four straight, which is their best run since the summer of 2015 when they went eight games without a loss. This success can largely be attributed to players settling into Brad Friedel’s system.

When Friedel became the seventh coach in Revs history, he promised to bring high-energy soccer to New England. This style would require a lot of fitness since players had to be ready to press the ball. It also required sharpness in all areas of the field. More than anything, it required the players to buy in. While it’s still early, things have been positive so far.

“Yeah, I think everybody [is buying in],” Diego Fagundez explained. “Of course you notice when someone is scoring, we’re all happy, we’re all celebrating. That’s what we want, we want our team to be together and bonding, and at the end of the day, this coaching staff definitely brought that to us.”

The hard work began in preseason, which many described as their most taxing as a professional. As fitness levels improved, Friedel’s system became more apparent. Players were pressing together, eager to force a turnover that could lead to a goal.

An early stumble at Philadelphia was followed by three wins and a tie. Now sitting tied for second in the Eastern Conference, players are looking forward to the challenges ahead.

Next week, the Revs welcome FC Dallas, a game that’s followed by a road trip to Columbus. These games won’t be easy and they should serve as a good barometer in regards to the current state of the Revs.

“Everybody has clicked already, but it’s going to show how this team is doing when we’re getting all these hard games coming up and most important, when we go away and our team is doing well,” Fagundez said. “These couple games coming up [are] going to be huge.”