Number of players and coaches to play first game at Impact’s home
The time has finally come. This Saturday at 1pm, after playing five of its first six games on the road, and the other at Olympic Stadium, the Impact will be back at Stade Saputo to take on expansion side Los Angeles FC (TICKETS). Luckily, the weather seems to have understood the magnitude of the situation as well: forecasts show a nice, sunny day to welcome home the Bleu-blanc-noir.
Although many players are already familiar with the stadium, the Impact’s newcomers will be experiencing a game there for the first time. And after a few games played on a synthetic pitch (four out of its first six, to be exact), a natural grass field may be exactly what the doctor ordered for the Bleu-blanc-noir.
“We’re playing on grass, so already that’s a plus,” said midfielder Saphir Taïder. “The stadium reminds me of stadiums in England, where the supporters are very close to the field and we can hear them much more. A lot of our players have already played there, so that will help us a lot. It’ll be a moment of discovery for us newcomers, which makes the game a little more exciting.”
If it’ll be the first game at Stade Saputo for many of the Impact’s players, it won’t be the first for the Impact’s head coach. Rémi Garde visited Stade Saputo in 2012, for a friendly against the Bleu-blanc-noir when he was head coach of Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyonnais.
“When I came here with Lyon, I had such a good impression of the stadium,” said Garde. “The atmosphere was great, and I really enjoyed the relationship between the team and its supporters. I’ve visited a lot of stadiums in my career and this one is really particular. When I was first contacted by the Impact, it’s one of the first things that came to mind.”
The stage is set for what should be a cracking matchup between the clubs. Make sure to arrive early in order to enjoy the plethora of activities made available by our partners; more details here.
