With both of New England’s center-backs out midfielder Wilfried Zahibo (left) will play a larger role in the club’s defense on Saturday against the Colorado Rapids (photo credit: Charlotte Thomas)
It’s far from the ideal situation, but Saturday’s home opener against the Colorado Rapids will certainly give the Revolution a better sense of their defensive depth as a result of the red card suspensions to Antonio Delamea and Claude Dielna.
With both of the team’s starting center backs unavailable in Week 2, Revolution coach Brad Friedel will be forced to shuffle his back four only one week into the regular season.
The prime candidates for the new-look center back partnership include one-time central defender Andrew Farrell as well as the experienced and versatile Jalil Anibaba, whom Friedel spoke highly of earlier this week.
“Yes, and he’s a very good leader,” Friedel told the media. “He’s been instrumental in that department since he’s come to the club. When he was on trial, even as a trialist, he started to become a leader, which is one of the reasons why we wanted to sign him.”
Anibaba went 63 minutes after he was called upon to take over for Delamea in last week’s 2-0 loss at Philadelphia. After answering the bell against the Union, the eight-year MLS veteran is keen to contribute against the Rapids.
“Everybody has been working hard throughout the course of preseason in general,” Anibaba told the media earlier this week. “So, whoever’s number is going to be called, the players will be ready. We’ll be ready. It’s just a matter of taking each week at a time and that’s what we’re doing.”
But hard work and preparation aren’t the only things that make a successful partnership.
“I think organization, communication, being on the same page is a standard,” Anibaba said. “It’s always important regardless of the lineup that is put out there.”
Another key to a strong central defense: sound performances from the midfielders directly in front of them.
“It’s always part of the job for Wilfried [Zahibo] and I, or for whoever is in there, to help protect the backline,” Revolution midfielder Scott Caldwell told the media earlier this week. “Like we’ve been saying all preseason, there’s been a lot of competition amongst the team and guys are going to be ready to step in to whatever positions are needed. The depth is great and guys are going to be ready.”
While Friedel all but tabbed Anibaba as one of his starting center backs for Saturday, the first-year head coach didn’t offer specifics on who the veteran defender will partner with once the match kicks off.
“That’s up to us,” Friedel said. “We have Jalil, and we have Nico [Samayoa].We also have Andrew Farrell who can play as a center back. We also have Brandon Bye who can play as a center back if need be. So, that’ll be something that we’ll discuss internally, but we have plenty of players that can cover.”
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