“Tomorrow’s game will be an excellent test,” noted Impact head coach Marc Dos Santos. “It’s a second division team with a higher competitive rhythm than us at this time of the year, and this is completely normal. But players are eager to play and during games like this one, the concentration level increases.”
The first match in Portugal will hold special meaning for midfielder Filipe Soares, a native of Freamunde who had worn the club’s colours during various seasons, from 2000 to 2004, and from 2006 to 2009.
“I’m very happy to be back home, and it will be special to match up against my former team,” explained the player also known by the name of Pastel in Portugal, since his father was a pastry chef. “I think the crowd there will be happy to see me. I was warmly applauded when I played against Freamunde earlier this year.”
“Even though we are at the start of preparation, I think that we can surprise them by our quality of play and our sense of organization. I would really like us to win this game,” added Soares.
For this first match on Portuguese soil, the probable starting lineup should be as follows: goalkeeper Matt Jordan, defenders Simon Gatti, Cédric Joqueviel, Stefano Pesoli and Adam Braz, midfielders Filipe Soares, Tyler Hemming, Philippe Billy and Tony Donatelli, and strikers Eduardo Sebrango and Roberto Brown.
A FIRST TRAINING SESSION
The Montreal team took part in a first training session Tuesday morning under the rain. The team mainly worked on collective organization in preparation for the game, but also on dead ball situations and possession.
“After our long trip, it was important to spare players from a muscular point of view and not push them excessively since we are playing tomorrow,” explained Dos Santos. “Players like training in situations in which they are comfortable. We have an ideal setting here because we have a natural grass surface and a large playing field. It’s so much better for them.”
The 22 players present for this pre-season camp took part in the training session, except team captain Nevio Pizzolitto, who was back on the field but who mainly ran individually. Pizzolitto is completing the 8th of 12 rehabilitation weeks following surgery to treat a sports hernia.
The Impact will also be facing a third division club, GD Ribeirao (Second division, Northern Zone) this Saturday and a first division club, Rio Ave FC (League 1) next Wednesday.
2010 season tickets are currently on sale. Mini-season tickets are also available for purchase for five matches, starting at $50, or ten matches from $100. For further information, dial 514-328-3668 or visit impactmontreal.com.
PHOTOS PÉPÉ
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Source: Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info: 514-328-3668 (ext. 227)
