Ugandan midfielder has started three consecutive games for Montreal
A lot has been said about the Impact’s deadline day additions from a few weeks ago. All three have implemented themselves into the starting line-up and had an immediate impact for the team. Right-back Bacary Sagna has started every game since he’s arrived, even netting his first Impact goal in a 3-0 win over the New York Red Bulls. Striker Quincy Amarikwa, on his end, has made two consecutive starts, and found the back of the net for the first time just a few days ago in Philadelphia.
But one player’s contributions are quietly going under the radar. Midfielder Micheal Azira, acquired with Amarikwa and Sagna on deadline day, has started the last three games for the Bleu-blanc-noir and has impressed his head coach with his play thus far.
“When Micheal Azira was recommended to me, I watched how he played, and I immediately saw a simple player, with a simple game, and an altruistic profile,” said head coach Rémi Garde. “I like those types of players in midfield who are able to, like Samuel, balance the team and play well when we aren’t in possession of the ball. These are players that shine through runs that nobody sees and who recover a lot of balls.”
His defensive work has been duly noted; Azira recovered the ball five times against the Union and managed nine recoveries against the Red Bulls, including seven in his defensive half. His defensive qualities have allowed someone like Designated Player Saphir Taïder to join the attack a little more often.
“Saphir has more of a box-to-box role and he contributes a lot offensively,” explained defender Rudy Camacho. “We need Micheal to occupy certain open spaces in the middle and he does it extremely well. He runs a lot and he closes a lot of those spaces.”
For Garde, that’s exactly the type of player that was needed, one who would also be able to pick up some of Samuel Piette’s defensive workload, especially considering the fact that the Canadian midfielder has started every game this season, breaking an Impact record in the process.
“He doesn’t have the same profile as Saphir on the other side, and that was sort of the idea,” added Garde. “It allows Saphir to exploit his attacking qualities in the opposing final third, which are a little more important. It still doesn’t excuse him from his defensive work, but he knows that already.”
