Bruce Arena is a no-bullshit kind of guy. The legendary MLS manager and former U.S. men’s national team head coach has always called it like he sees it, and that certainly hasn’t changed since he took over the New England Revolution in May. With the Revs on the brink of their first playoff matchup in four years on Saturday at Atlanta and before the United States’ loss to Canada, I sat down with Arena to talk a little bit about New England, and a whole lot about the current state of MLS and the U.S. men’s national team. He didn’t hold back.



Here’s Arena in full, lightly edited for length and clarity.



On his time with the Revolution:



Sam Stejskal: We all know about the turnaround. I believe the team was 3-8-4 when you coached your first game in LA —



Bruce Arena: I can tell you exactly what we were. We were… (pauses) 3-8-4, you’re right, I have it up there on the...