Bleu-blanc-noir looking to extend positive sequence
BRIDGEVIEW, Illinois – The Montreal Impact will continue its busy week with a second game in five days, this Wednesday at 8:30pm EDT (TVA Sports, 98,5fm, TSN Radio 690) against the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park.
“We know that it’s a dangerous team moving forward,” said Impact head coach Rémi Garde. “They’ll be at home and we know that it’ll be difficult. Away games are always difficult situations in this league. Still, we know them well enough and we’re preparing by watching their latest games.”
Getting back-to-back victories
The Bleu-blanc-noir gained some ground in the standings with its 4-2 victory over the New England Revolution, and only just surpassed the Fire, who is one point behind Montreal but with a game in hand. An opportunity is presenting itself to Rémi Garde’s troops: not only will the Impact catch up to the herd with a win, but the team will also distance themselves from Veljko Paunović’s men, who have a record of one win, three losses, and one draw at home this season.
“They’re looking for points,” said midfielder Samuel Piette. “It’s important for them to win tomorrow. They have great players like Nemanja Nikolić, who led the MLS in goals last year. We faced them in preseason and we won, but they’ve always impressed me as a team. They had a great season last year. It’ll be a difficult task for us tomorrow.”
The Impact has not lost in its two last trips to Chicago and has an overall winning record of six wins, five losses and one draw against the Fire. If the opportunity to get a result is there, most notably because of the high number of injuries riddling the hosts, especially with Michael de Leeuw, Matt Polster, Luis Solignac and Djordje Mihailovic unavailable for the contest, Montreal shouldn’t take this game lightly.
“Football, it’s very mental,” said midfielder Saphir Taïder. “Our bodies are tired, but it isn’t an excuse. They also played on the weekend. It’s on us to stay mentally focused and to be strong. We need to tell ourselves that we’re going there to win, and not dwell on Saturday’s victory. We need to be hungry and take these three points.”
Nacho Piatti on unstoppable streak
Designated Player Nacho Piatti has been on absolute fire these days. Chosen as MLS Player of the week due to a performance last Saturday in which he earned a goal and three assists, he’s now ranked fifth in goals scored and first in assists in MLS. Against Chicago, the Argentine has three goals and one assist in seven games.
Upcoming games
The Impact will play its next two games at Stade Saputo. On Saturday, May 12 at 3pm, the Philadelphia Union will be the visitors during Mother’s Day weekend (TICKETS – TVA Sports, CTV, 98,5fm, TSN Radio 690). Then, the Bleu-blanc-noir will celebrate its silver jubilee with the 25th anniversary commemorative game against the LA Galaxy, on Monday, May 21, at 3pm, 25 years to the day after the club’s first game in Montreal (TICKETS – TVA Sports, TSN, 98,5fm, TSN Radio 690).