No goals allowed in 342 minutes for the Bleu-blanc-noir
If we were to tell you a few weeks ago that the Montreal Impact would become one of the better defensive teams in the league come July, you may have not believed us, and that’s fine. The team had allowed 28 goals in the first 13 games of the season, surpassing an average of two goals per game, and goalkeeper Evan Bush led the league in saves.
But the Impact has turned a corner defensively as of late. The team has allowed just two goals in its last five games, both coming in a 2-0 loss to FC Dallas. It won the other four games by shutting out its opponent, and hasn’t allowed a goal in over 342 minutes, a club record.
“As a team, we’ve really committed to the defensive side,” said goalkeeper Evan Bush. “In the past, when we said we’ve committed to the defensive side, sometimes that meant we sat deep and just looked to counter. That’s not really the case. We’re pressing in the areas that we need to press, and our wide midfielders are doing a good job of staying tucked in.”
It all started on June 2, when the Impact managed to beat the Houston Dynamo 1-0 at Stade Saputo, breaking out of a four-game losing streak in the process. Since then, the team has looked more committed at the back, and has made it extremely difficult for oppositions to breakthrough and earn clear looks on goal.
“We weren’t in the same place before, when things weren’t going well, as we are now,” said defender Rudy Camacho. “It was a little complicated and there was a lack of confidence. Little by little, we worked very hard. It wasn’t easy, but we managed to find a good team block that stays compact and solid, and we work for each other more now.”
Coming together as a team
Since the season began in early March, the Impact has gone through quite a few moments as a team. But a difficult stretch of games seems to be over, and a certian chemistry is becoming evident in Rémi Garde's men.
“We’re a young team, meaning we’ve only known each other for a few months,” said midfielder Saphir Taïder. “We worked hard and kept our heads high when we went through difficult moments, and that’s where we saw the group’s mental strength. Now it’s going much better, but everything goes fast in football, so we need to stay vigilant.”
With so many fresh faces kicking off the 2018 season, a certain adaptation period was always going to be necessary. But as the coaching staff and the team’s new players started to become accustomed to their new surroundings, the results became evident on the field as well.
“We had to adapt quickly to settle in,” explained head coach Rémi Garde. “It was hard, but I think the group gave the right answers and we started to be rewarded. But in football, everything is fragile. If we lower our commitment level just a little bit, we will be punished.”
Sitting just two points out of a playoff spot, the Impact will play its next game on Saturday when it hosts the Colorado Rapids at Stade Saputo (TICKETS – TVA Sports, 98,5fm, TSN Radio 690).
