The American goalkeeper leads the league with 105 saves
In the Impact’s last game, a 1-1 draw against Real Salt Lake, goalkeeper Evan Bush was once again fantastic. Considering the timing and quality of the five saves he made, it quickly dawns on you how important he was to the point earned in Utah.
But that’s what Evan Bush has been doing since the beginning of the season, keeping his team in games by making spectacular saves in the nick of time.
“He’s a fantastic leader to have behind us,” said defender Daniel Lovitz. “What he’s been able to do for us in games is massive for what we’ve been able to accomplish. If you look at our last game, it’s a perfect example of what he’s done consistently for us this year. It gave us a bunch of confidence to know that he’s behind us.”
The American goalkeeper has already reached a few milestones this year: he surpassed 10,000 minutes played with the Impact against Seattle, played his 175th game with the Impact in Orlando, and also beat the club’s former longest shutout streak when he went 420 minutes without allowing a goal.
“Even before I came here, I always thought he was one of the better goalies in the league,” added Lovitz. “Some of the other guys around the league get a little bit more attention than he does. It’s a little bit tilted in terms of who gets the more favourability from the league sometimes.”
Working withJoël Bats
Evan Bush, like the entire team, had a more difficult year last season, failing to qualify for the playoffs. When head coach Rémi Garde joined the club in the offseason, he and new goalkeeper coach Joël Bats felt that Bush had what it takes to have a bounce back season in 2018.
“What I was told is that he was coming out of a somewhat complicated season,” said head coach Rémi Garde. “Joël and I, we watched games, and Joël told me right away that he was confident he could find a margin of progression with him compared to what he’s seen, and I think that’s what’s happening now.”
Joël Bats joined Rémi Garde’s coaching staff after the former French goalkeeper spent close to 17 years with Olympique Lyonnais as its goalkeeping coach, making a name for himself as one of the best in the business. After a few months with the Bleu-blanc-noir, he’s already made his impact in a big way.
“Joël’s work is fantastic,” added Garde. “It’s incredible how he manages to give the goalies he works with so much confidence. I had spoken about it with Evan as well. I told him that he might not know Joël, but to have confidence in him, and in the fact that he would be able to bring something to his game.”
“I think all my goalies have progressed today and Evan, notably in last week’s game, allowed us to come away with a point once again.”
