Impact recuperates most players gone with international sides
It’s always hard to lose the way the Impact did, last Saturday in Atlanta. After keeping the defending champions at bay throughout the game and the score tied at one goal apiece, the Impact conceded from a set-piece in the 83rd minute, eventually losing 2-1 in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
It was never going to be an easy matchup. The Impact, coming off two consecutive wins, was still missing players gone with their international sides, while Rémi Garde also had to manage a fairly long list of injuries as well. The same situation applied against Seattle and Portland respectively, with six players having left to join their national sides.
But finally, as the Impact gets set to host Minnesota United this Saturday at 7:30pm (TICKETS – TVA Sports, 98.5, TSN 690), most of those players will be back with the club, excluding Micheal Azira, still with Uganda at the Africa Cup of Nations, and Daniel Lovitz, who just qualified for the semifinals of the Concacaf Gold Cup with the United States.
“It’s going to feel good,” said Impact full-back Bacary Sagna. “Extremely important reinforcements have returned, players who bring a lot to the team. It’s going to do us good and it’ll increase the competition between ourselves. We know everyone in this team can play and that you need to perform to keep your spot. For the team, it’s great.”
Despite the challenges arising since the start of the season, Rémi Garde’s men have certainly maintained a good pace: they still haven’t lost two consecutive games this season, keeping a steady 1.5 points per game average and sitting just two points out of top spot in the East.
“All the hardships and the adversity that we’ve been through, I think it’ll pay off in the end,” explained goalkeeper Evan Bush. “A lot of guys got minutes they might not have had if everyone was here. We now have guys that are comfortable in those situations and I’m sure it’ll benefit us moving forward.”
Upcoming games
The Impact will have a busy week: Montreal hosts Minnesota United FC on Saturday, July 6, at 7:30pm at Stade Saputo (TICKETS – TVA Sports, 98.5, TSN 690), before making its way to the Queen City for the first leg of the Canadian Championship quarterfinal against York 9 FC at York Lions Stadium on Wednesday, July 10, at 7:30pm. The Impact will then be back at Stade Saputo for a rivalry game against Toronto FC on Saturday, July 13 at 7:30pm (TICKETS – TVA Sports, TSN, 98.5, TSN 690).
