It has been a nearly two-week layoff for the New England Revolution and CF Montreal as the teams prepare to meet on Saturday evening at Montreal to resume MLS play following the Leagues Cup break.
Despite sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, the Revolution (7-14-2, 23 points) are just five points behind Atlanta United for the ninth and final playoff spot in the East, with at least two matches in hand on every team above them in the standings.
But that crowded group includes five teams ahead of them that also trying to break into the top nine.
“We don’t have to win every game, but the mindset needs to be to win the next one,” Revs head coach Caleb Porter told WBZ-FM. “… We need to win our home games for sure and then if we win two or three on the road, I think we’re in good shape. But it doesn’t do any good to predict all that. We just need to go and win the next game.”
Forward Luca Langoni, acquired from Argentina power Boca Juniors for a reported club-record $7 million transfer fee, could make his debut on Saturday, per Porter. Midfielder Alhassan Yusuf, who signed with New England from Belgium’s first division on Aug. 12, is set to join the team next week.
Montreal (6-10-9, 27 points) added some transfer-window reinforcements of their own, acquiring forward Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty in a trade with Toronto FC. The club also signed defenders Dawid Bugaj from third-division Italian club SPAL and Tom Pearce on a free transfer. Both Bugaj and Pearce made their club debuts during Leagues Cup.
Sitting just one point behind the playoff line with nine matches remaining, Montreal will look to boost its own postseason hopes while maintaining its buffer over New England.
“We know the objective is clear, to make the playoffs and go as far as we can. That’s always been our goal since the beginning of the season,” Montreal defender Joel Waterman said. “The way we do that is taking care of the details each and every day in training and obviously in games too (by winning) our games at home. That’s a massive part of it.”
–Field Level Media