John Harkes: Bruce Arena has refreshed the New England Revolution

John Harkes during a March 2000 match for the New England Revolution against the Tampa Bay Mutiny. (Andy Lyons/Allsport)

The New England Revolution’s turnaround under sporting director/head coach Bruce Arena might have been surprising to most.

But the swiftness of the team’s reversal has struck a different tone with Greenville Triumph head coach/sporting director John Harkes, who played for the Revolution from 1999-2001.

“Accountability every day is something [Arena] brings to the table,” said Harkes, who captained Arena’s teams at the University of Virginia and D.C. United. “Preparation is there, the organization is there. And he wants the players to be the same. You have to be prepared when you come in, and that starts on the Monday after the game with recovery and regeneration. Mindsets have to be right.