Revs Preview: New England goes for three in a row against first-place Charlotte

The New England Revolution will head into the fortress that is Bank of America Stadium Saturday.

Charlotte FC is 5-0 with just two goals allowed at home. The club has also scored a whopping 13 goals in the Queen City.

The Revolution, though, are on a bit of a hot streak themselves, winning three of their last four games. New England is also winners of two in a row, both shutouts.

“We’re still only a third of the way through the season, so we’re just scratching the surface of the team that we can be and the team that we need to be,” Coach Caleb Porter said. “We have to keep improving, and we’ll be focused on that.

“Continuing to get better individually and collectively, continuing to defend well, continuing to create chances, continuing to score more goals and continuing to get results.”

Last time out in particular, the Revolution’s attack showed how dangerous it can be. After no open field goals in the first seven games, New England grabbed two in a win against NYC FC.

Both came from two of the team’s top newcomers in Leo Campana and Ignatius Ganago.

“A guy like Ganago has just kept grinding,” Porter said after the match. “He has played well in most games. He has been in good spots, he just hasn’t finished. I actually sat down with him and Leo individually on Friday. In Leo’s case, I showed him all his goals in MLS, just went through about three minutes of goals, and reminded him of his quality.

“And then I went through with Ganago, all his goals in Ligue 1 to remind him his quality. I think sometimes, even good players, they need to remember they can hit the back of the net. They need permission to watch themself, and I gave them permission. We watched their goals, and they went and did it.”

For Ganago, the goal against New York and his assist on Campana’s, were both the firsts of his MLS career.

“I’m really happy, I’ve made it a long way,” Ganago said. “[Porter] always speaks to me after every game, he just keeps saying that I’m a great player, that I don’t have to bother myself. The goals will come. Today I scored a goal and I gave an assist also. So it’s a great day for me, for everybody, so I’m really happy for this.”

With Campana and winger Tomás Chancalay both back from their injuries, Porter’s squad is truly coming into form.

Although Chancalay hasn’t started yet, having him in the rotation gives Porter plenty of options and provides added motivation within the side.

“It’s good for competition in training. The training level goes up because the audition for parts every day is more difficult,” Porter said. “It’s great because the guys you put in off the bench give you a push. We have a lot of options off the bench that can bring more attack and give us a push there if we need a goal.”

While the added depth is helping restart the attack, the Revolution’s defense has been steady all year.

“For me, defending is a part of winning, it’s an important part of winning,” Porter said. “To be a good team, a team that’s consistent and a team that’s going to have a chance to win every game, and have a chance to win a trophy someday, you have to be a good defensive team.”

A major weapon in both the team’s defense and attack is newcomer Ilay Feingold.

With the team’s system, the 20-year-old often attacks as a winger and defends as a full back on the right side.

“My inspiration in my position, let’s say Dani Alves probably, is a player that I used to watch when I was a kid,” Feingold said. “He is, I think, an all-around player and good defensively and also good on the attack. And about the balance in this role, as I said, you need good cardio and good stamina for that kind of thing.

“It’s so hard, but this is modern football. The game is so fast, so quick, and you have to do box-to-box very well, so I try to do it my best.”

Charlotte will surely provide a major test for Feingold and the rest of the back line. Entering Saturday, Charlotte is tied for first in goals scored in the Eastern Conference this season with 16.

“We are in really good form, but we respect Charlotte,” Feingold said. “They are in first place and are doing very well this season. We need to play very smart, like we played in the last games, and I am sure we are going to get a good result. But we have to stay calm and very humble like we did in the last games, and I hope we will get a good result.

Saturday’s match against Charlotte is just the beginning of a tenuous road stretch for New England.

“This next quarter, if you will, is probably the most difficult quarter because we are on the road the entire month of May and six of seven on the road,” Porter said. “I think it’s seven of eight if you include Open Cup, so it’s going to be our most difficult stretch.

“The good news is, we’ve gone well in a few games on the road, and we are a good defensive team, so that’s important on the road, and we’re starting to get our attack going.”