When we talk about depth on a team’s roster, its importance and significance comes to light during times like this.
For a period of 18 days, starting next week versus TFC in Toronto, the Impact we will be playing games every three days, which will definitely test the players’ fitness.
“We have to make sure that we plan for the long haul and not just the next game,” said Impact assistant coach Philippe Eullaffroy, former head coach of the Impact U21, having experienced playing a number of games with a short turnaround. “When we play on the weekends, we have a lot of time to focus on the next game, the next opponent, but with such a short turnaround, we have to prepare much more in advance for the following games as well.”
As such, expect there to be a number of changes in the Impact’s starting 11, especially in the matchups versus Toronto FC in the Amway Canadian Championship.
“Normally, we start thinking about the starting 11 or the 18-man roster a few days before the game, but now we have to plan ahead and balance playing time. With so many games in such little time, we are always in a period of recovery, so we have to consider how hard we train.”
READ: Impact hope the "Spirit of 2008" is with them again this year
The players might love this type of scenario, after all, anyone would prefer to play games rather than practice, but for the coaches, it changes their approach.
“During the game, we manage more. In training is where we implement the system and ideas, so it’s a little harder for us. It’s more difficult to adjust things that go wrong because we don’t have enough training time and we have to make sure everyone is rested, healthy and physically ready for each game.”
The good news: the team will be well-rested leading up to the opening leg of the Canadian Championship this Wednesday in Toronto (7:30pm ET).
“We haven’t played in 10 days and guys are anxious to go. However, we can’t burn all our cards in that game as we have a charged schedule coming afterwards. It’s a balancing act to give our team the best chance to win in the midst of two different championships going on at the same time.”
