Three new players joining the Bleu-blanc-noir
Deadline day is always a stressful ordeal. MLS clubs had until 12:59am on Thursday morning to make transfers and trades before the Secondary Transfer Window officially closed for the rest of the season.
The Impact, sitting in fifth in the Eastern Conference and in a position to battle for a playoff spot in this final stretch of games, decided to make a few moves that would bolster its squad, from defense to attack.
“We added three players that could help us going into the last 10 games of the season, on every part of the field” said Montreal Impact technical director Adam Braz. “We’re in the mix to fight for the playoffs, so every game is going to have huge implications, like a final. To be able to add three experienced players is going to help the overall dynamic of the group.”
The players were all announced late Wednesday evening, a few hours before the window closed for the 2018 season.
“It’s not over until it’s over,” added Braz. “Maybe on the outside it looked as if we were done, but on the inside, the work is nonstop. The effort to bring in players is an ongoing process. The bottom line is that we always try to improve the squad, and I think we are better as a group today than we were [on Tuesday].”
Who is joining the Impact?
The biggest signing for the Bleu-blanc-noir came in the form of right-back Bacary Sagna. The French international has a pedigree that speaks for itself, having played most of his career in England’s Premier League at Arsenal and Manchester City.
“A player like Bacary can help the players around him,” said Braz. “The others can watch him and learn from him. When you bring in good players with a lot of experience, it improves the people around him on and off the field.”
The Impact also acquired defensive midfielder Micheal Azira from the Colorado Rapids and forward Quincy Amarikwa from the Earthquakes, who both boast impressive MLS experience, and who are expected to add some much-needed depth in positions that needed it.
“It’s a position on the field that we were light on in terms of actual numbers, so Micheal is someone that we felt we needed to add,” explained Braz. “He fills that void and brings a ton of experience to the squad as well. Quincy is eager and hungry. He’s had a tough go in terms of his knee injury a couple of years ago. He’s coming here with a point to prove, so we’re looking to see enthusiasm and energy.”
Both Amarikwa and Azira will be joining the team in Salt Lake City for the Impact’s upcoming game on Saturday, at 10pm EDT (TVA Sports). Sagna, on his end, could be available for the Impact’s next home game on Saturday, August 18 at 7:30pm against the Chicago Fire (TICKETS – TVA Sports, 98,5fm).
