FOXBOROUGH — Carles Gil has only been in Massachusetts for a few days and has yet to play a game at Gillette Stadium. But he already has made an impact with the Revolution, his goal salvaging 1-1 draw in the season-opener at FC Dallas on Saturday.
“It’s no surprise, he’s going to be one of the top players in the league,” Revolution midfielder Wilfried Zahibo said. “He’s going to help us a lot.”
Zahibo had a preview of Gil while playing alongside Gil’s brother, Nacho, for Valencia’s B team, when Gil performed for the first team in 2014 and ’15.
“I don’t know if one guy can, but he’s the type of player that makes the difference,” Zahibo said. “He’s the type of player who, when it comes to the big game, doesn’t care about the pressure. We have guys like [Cristian] Penilla, Juan [Agudelo], but he can add to it, and make us go to another level, I hope.”
Gil’s score was significant for several reasons.
Gil showed an ability to adjust to tactics that meant limited possession for the Revolution, quite different from Spain’s wide open, highly technical style. The strategy also meant few opportunities — the Revolution had only two shots on goal (both by Gil) — but that was enough for the Revolution to avoid a season-opening defeat for only the second time in six years.
Now, Gil is preparing for his first chance to perform on an artificial surface when the Revolution meet the Columbus Crew in their home opener next Saturday. The Revolution will probably attempt to set the offensive tone, meaning more possession for the team’s midfield, but probably a choppier game because of the turf.
“Away from home, it’s difficult, difficult to attack,” Gil said. “At home, we’ll be more offensive, we’ll create more chances to score.”
Gil became the Revolution’s most expensive signing when he was acquired on a $2 million transfer from Deportivo La Coruña last month.
Nor are the Revolution finished with player acquisitions, according to coach Brad Friedel.
“We will be bringing in one more,” Friedel said before practice Tuesday. “We are working around the clock on it. I don’t have a date, but one more will definitely be coming in.
“We have a lot of good players. The more quality players we have will make everyone better.”
Gil became the second Spaniard to perform for the Revolution, after former Real Madrid forward Jose Luis Morales in 2000.
The Revolution were able to stifle FC Dallas, which struggled to play out of the back, leaving few tactical options. Few Spanish clubs could be so easily stymied.
“I’m going to say it’s a more technical game [in Spain], but in the US you have 11 athletes, and you can have some players with a lot of ability,” said Zahibo, who grew up in France and Guadeloupe. “In Spain, when we work with kids, we work with them technically, and after that, being athletic. Here, the development is a little different. The mentality is different.”
Premier intrigue
Liverpool FC has been in first place in the Premier League for most of the season, has sustained only one league defeat, and has the best goals-against record. But the Reds have been inconsistent offensively, which could cost them in a race with Manchester City for the Premier League title and in the Champions League.
In six of the last nine matches, Liverpool has produced one goal or fewer. But Liverpool certainly has the potential to explode, judging by the other three results — victories over Crystal Palace (4-3), Bournemouth (3-0), and Watford (5-0).
Manager Jurgen Klopp has been using a three-forward lineup, but Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, and Mohamed Salah have been converting only against mid-table opposition.
Liverpool produced few highlights during a 0-0 draw at Everton on Sunday, but the match was notable for other reasons. Just after the second half kickoff, Firmino, who has an ankle injury, obliged a fan’s request and posed for a picture with her baby while he was sitting on the Liverpool bench. Then, after the game, Klopp confronted an Everton ball boy, who seemed to be mocking him with exaggerated applause, possibly in response to Klopp’s overly exuberant celebratory run onto the field after Liverpool took a 1-0 win over Everton earlier in the season. Klopp quickly regained his composure, but then displayed defensiveness when questioned about the team’s lack of scoring during a press conference.
Liverpool has not lost in nine games (4-0-5) since Jan. 7, but things are not going as smoothly as in December, when the Reds won eight successive matches.
Travel teams
The Revolution-Chelsea match scheduled at Gillette Stadium at 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 15, presents difficulties for both teams. Chelsea could be playing five matches in three countries in the first two weeks of May, and the Revolution have a visit to Montreal scheduled May 17.
The Blues will be playing league matches against Watford (May 4) and at Leicester City (May 12), and could be in the Europa Cup semifinals on May 2 and May 9. The Europa League final is set in Baku, Azerbaijan, on May 29. Also, a makeup date has not been set for Chelsea’s postponed home match against Brighton.
Atlanta flames out
Frank De Boer is facing difficult tests early in his stint as Atlanta United coach. Atlanta, which led MLS with 70 goals last year, became the only team to open the season without scoring, sustaining a 2-0 loss at D.C. United.
Atlanta United also lost its Champions League debut, a 3-1 result at CS Herediano, before recovering with a 4-0 home win last week.
MLS makes it difficult for teams to excel in multiple competitions because of limited rosters, salary caps, and league game scheduling. So, though Atlanta has been spending on players, the roster is not deep enough to allow much margin for error. And De Boer seems to be learning the hard way, his attempts to juggle the lineup failing as Julian Gressel and Pity Martinez were on the bench for the D.C. game. It will not be easy for De Boer to keep the team fresh with Champions Cup games scheduled against CF Monterrey on successive Wednesdays and an MLS match against FC Cincinnati on Sunday.
A year ago, Atlanta United opened the season with a 4-0 loss at Houston. Coach Tata Martino made all the right moves after that as Atlanta went on a nine-game (8-0-1) unbeaten streak.