New England Revolution 
Carles Gil during the Revolution’s loss against Cincinnati. Jeff Dean/Getty Images
By Hayden Bird
April 11, 2025 | 3:04 PM
The Revolution head to Atlanta on Saturday for what will be a fascinating early-season test for Caleb Porter’s team.
New England has started 2025 in, to put it mildly, relatively poor form in front of goal. The Revolution have so far managed three goals in six games. Two came from team captain Carles Gil in the same game (the lone win of the season to this point in a 2-1 victory over the Red Bulls on March 29). The other was an own goal scored in a 2-1 loss against New York City FC.
Fans are still waiting to see an actual Revolution player score from open play, an event that somehow still has not occurred more than a month and a half into the new campaign.
The underlying data reflects the struggles. New England has underperformed its “expected goals” (xG), but is still last in the league in that polarizing statistic (though the Revolution have a game in hand).
Granted, Porter could reasonably point to the bad fortune of having to play most of the season to this point without two of his three Designated Players. Argentine winger Tomás Chancalay has been out since last June with a torn ACL, while striker Leo Campana (the team’s most important offseason addition) went down with a hamstring injury after only a few minutes in the 2-0 March 8 loss vs. Philadelphia.
Without the duo, New England looked to its depth to fill the void, and was left wanting more. Maxi Urruti, a 34-year-old veteran forward, has worked hard as Campana’s replacement, but has yet to consistently connect with Gil (the team’s third DP) and the rest of the Revolution’s attack. Ignatius Ganago, a talented winger on loan from French Ligue 1 side FC Nantes, has so far squandered his best chances at a goal (though he did hit the post in last week’s loss vs. Cincinnati).
This week, Porter has revealed that he is “hoping [Chancalay] can be available off the bench” against Atlanta, and that Campana is “very close” to a return.
While it seems doubtful that either player will start this Saturday, their momentary returns should help lift the bar on offense.
“Your Designated Players are your Designated Players for a reason. Tomás is a DP for a reason,” Porter said in his weekly press conference. “He has goals in him and he is hungry to score.
“On a personal level, I am just really proud of him for getting back and going through the long road and journey to recover from a torn ACL,” the Revolution coach added. “So, it will be a nice moment when he finally gets his chance to go back in the game to help us, hopefully win the game and push us over the top.”
The good news for the Revolution is that the team’s defense — a clear weak spot in 2024 — has performed much better in 2025.
And Porter, again with some reason, has consistently pointed out that his team has been “in every game” from a competitive standpoint.
Still, the two-time MLS Cup winner is now 40 games into his New England tenure, and has amassed a decidedly unimpressive 10-25-5 record. The MLS season is long — and there remains plenty of time to get back into the league’s expansive playoff race — but the runway doesn’t extend forever. At some point, Porter’s team will have to learn to fly.
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