The Revolution returned to training Tuesday following two days off as they begin preparations for Saturday’s Eastern Conference tilt with DC United (7:30 p.m., Gillette Stadium).
The Revs are coming off Saturday afternoon’s scoreless draw with Montreal, while United is coming off a 2-1 defeat in the humidity of Houston Saturday night.
Interim Revs coach Mike Lapper noted the two days off were imperative, given the emotions of the last few weeks, not to mention the fact the team had five matches — four in the league, one friendly — in 15 days.
“Just to exhale,” Lapper said prior to training Tuesday. “Now we’ve got a week to prepare for a very, very good DC United team that we fully expect to give us a true go. I need the guys to be fresh and be ready to give it their all and get three points at home.
“(Saturday against DC is) massive. It’s massive. That’s what I’m going to go talk to them about right now. They had their days off, they exhaled. Now it’s time to get focused and really, this is a huge, huge game for this club and it’s hopefully a turning point for our group.”
Said rookie Tajon Buchanan: “I think (the two days off) was much needed. Getting two days off and being able to just recoup, regroup and then just rest up and get ready for this week and play a great opponent in D.C. United.”
In recapping Saturday’s 0-0 draw, Lapper praised the play of first-half substitute DeJuan Jones, and mentioned that where the Michigan State product plays in the future is “up to him.”
“I had a conversation with him probably about three, four weeks ago that I thought this might be his position of choice,” Lapper said. “Because he is dual-footed – he’s left and right, he’s comfortable on either one. This is something if he embraces, he can take it as far as he wants.”
It should be noted that Jones, who was the Revolution’s No. 11 SuperDraft choice in January, had shown he can play in the backline during the previous week’s Combine, and former coach Brad Friedel has said during the first round conference call with the Boston soccer press corps that he rated Jones as an attacking midfielder.
Jones — who made the bench for MLS’ Team of the Week on Monday — said Tuesday that he had specific instructions from the coaching staff before entering the match for Edgar Castillo in the 34th minute.
“Just basically to stop the crosses,” he said. “Don’t let them go down the left side or the right side, so whenever they get the ball close down quickly, block crosses, and when I can try to get forward.”
Since Friedel’s firing, the Revs have only allowed one goal in the last 181 minutes of normal time. Lapper attributes that to a tightening up in the back.
“I think the guys took on board that they are responsible for some of the stuff that happened (leading up to the managerial switch),” Lapper said. “I think, based on that, they just really gave a huge individual and team effort. That’s the reason. I also alluded to the fact earlier that in the game of football, it’s funny, because a couple bounces, a shot that’s blocked compared to not blocked goes in, hits the post – you need a little bit of luck, as well, along the way. But for the most part, I thought the guys have been digging deep, fighting hard, battling individually and collectively, and hence the reason why we got the shutout.”
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Homegrown striker Justin Rennicks will be with the U.S. U-20 national team for the next few weeks as the U-20s take part in that level’s World Cup in Poland. Matches start Friday for the US, which will play Ukraine (2:30 p.m., FS1). On Monday, Rennicks and the U-20s will play Nigeria (2:30 p.m., FS1), and will play Qatar next Thursday afternoon (2:30 p.m., FS2). Set your DVRs. … Homegrown midfielder Zachary Herivaux is listed on Haiti’s 40-man provisional roster for the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup. … The Revs’ U-19 team is headed to California for the US Soccer Development Academy playoffs for the third time in three years. The U-19’s need two more wins to clinch the Northeast Division title for the second time in three years. … Referee Dave Gantar will be in the middle for Saturday’s match… Lapper also said that he’s hopeful Michael Mancienne (plantar fasciitis) will return to training this week. ... Only one midweek league match to worry about tonight: the Red Bulls host Vancouver. ... One other soccer note for this week: the US men’s national team will play Canada and Cuba as part of the CONCACAF Nations League during the international windows in October and November.