FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Three games into his return to the New England Revolution, Juan Agudelo is still searching for the spark from 2013, when he scored seven times in 14 matches.
No one on the Revolution has scored at this point, but Agudelo feels that with one favorable bounce things could break wide open for the club.
“Anything sort of may be a lucky goal,” said Agudelo. “The first goal last year was an own goal, and that opens up a lot of things. Once we get that first goal, I think we’re going to go into a streak where we can’t stop losing.”
The early struggles aren’t for a lack of chemistry, Agudelo said. Despite being away for a year while playing overseas, the 22-year-old forward said there still remains a comfort with his teammates off the field, and he feels that things are starting to progress in the right direction on the field.
“The on-field chemistry is still coming along,” Revs head coach Jay Heaps said. “It’s not a lack of trying. It’s a little bit of a lack of getting in each other’s way. So we have to spread the space. The chemistry will come when the spacing is right.”
“We’ve created chances,” added Agudelo. “I still feel like maybe we need to be a little more selfish. We’ve got to shoot more, even it’s from distance.”
Agudelo has started all three matches up top in a 4-2-3-1 formation, but he moved to the right wing in Saturday’s scoreless draw with the Montreal Impact. There, he took advantage of pace and distribution ability in a role that seemed to suit him more favorably – despite being the first game in which he didn’t find any shots.
“I feel like, to be honest, a little bit more comfortable playing on the wing,” Agudelo said. “I understand I’m good at holding up the ball, just maybe a little more comfortable facing the goal more.”
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The move is a bit reminiscent to Teal Bunbury’s evolution with the club when he found a more prominent role along the right wing last year after playing up top early in the season.
“I feel good,” said Agudelo, who played a season-high 84 minutes against Montreal. “I felt as though maybe I could have even finished the game, that’s how well I was feeling fitness-wise. But I know it’s a progression, I know I haven’t played in a while, but I think I’m progressing well.”
Heaps seemed please by Agudelo’s play along the flank, allowing him to utilize Charlie Davies’ speed bursts up the middle more.
“We want to continue to make him a little bit more versatile and try different things,” Heaps said. “I like what he’s brought, and I think our group is getting better.”
