When the New England Revolution can again compete in MLS matches, the good news is left back Alexander Buttner could make his MLS debut.
Buttner, formerly of Manchester United and Vitesse, signed last November as a free agent and then missed the club’s two first matches of 2020 with a quad strain. However, the 31-year-old revealed on a club-run Instagram Live that he’s healed up with the season on pause.
“The only thing [that was] disappointing was my injury in the start of the season,” Buttner told club reporter Elizabeth Pehota. “So, finally I’m fit but we cannot play. I’m good now, my leg feels good. I have no problems anymore.”
The Revolution have relied upon a rotating cast of left backs in years past, so it was an area of focus for head coach/sporting director Bruce Arena during his first offseason at the helm. The club made two signings to address the positional need, with one being MLS veteran Seth Sinovic and the other being Buttner via Targeted Allocation Money.
The Dutch defender spoke glowingly about Arena, who last year joined the Revolution in May and steered the Eastern Conference club from a historically-poor start to postseason place, ending a three-year playoff drought.
“He’s a kind of coach that every player has respect for him,” the Dutch defender said. “He’s an amazing person, amazing coach and he knows the players well and knows when he has to talk to the players, when he’s quiet, how to treat players.”
Buttner was one of two international signings for New England this offseason, with Designated Player Adam Buksa the other. Buttner revealed that he rooms with the Polish striker on road trips, and that they live close to each other.
“He lives in the other building here,” Buttner said. “Sometimes we talk, we play football together. He’s always my roommate. I know him good and we are close. We’re starting to [become] good friends. He’s a nice guy and a really good player.”
For more from Buttner on and off the field, check out the entire Instagram Live interview above.
