Everything is possible for the Impact heading into last game
MLS Decision Day is almost here, and it’ll be decisive for quite a few teams. Nothing is set in stone in the East and by the end of it, every single playoff position can be occupied by a different team. For the Montreal Impact, however, decisive isn’t a big enough word.
By now, we all know that the Impact needs to win its last game of the MLS regular season to give itself a chance of finishing in the sixth and last playoff spot. No easy task, as the team will travel to Massachusetts for a game on Gillette Stadium’s synthetic pitch against the New England Revolution, Sunday at 4:30pm (TVA Sports, TSN, 98,5fm, TSN Radio 690).
After that, the Bleu-blanc-noir will need the Columbus Crew SC to drop points in its last game, at MAPFRE Stadium against Minnesota United FC. But for now, Rémi Garde’s men are focused on what they can control: beating the Revolution for a second time this season.
Here is what the Impact players have been saying heading into this all-important game.
Midfielder Nacho Piatti
“We’re extremely happy to have one last opportunity to qualify for the playoffs. We’re going to prepare the same way we’ve prepared for these previous games. It’s a decisive game for us. We have to win. It’s the sole result that will allow us to move forward.”
Defender Bacary Sagna
“We’re conscious that we need to win this game and impose our style of play, even if it’s away from home. We knew it was going to come down to the last game, and that’s what’s happening. Anything can happen, and whatever that is, we can’t have any regrets.”
Midfielder Samuel Piette
“It’ll be a first for me, to play in such a make or break game. We can’t change our routine too much. We need to prepare like we’ve been preparing for our games these past few weeks and focus on what we’ve been doing well. We’re approaching this game like it’s the last one we’ll ever play. We need to give everything we have, and we’ll see what Columbus does.”
Striker Quincy Amarikwa
“We’re proud that we’re giving ourselves a chance to stay in it, but I don’t think we’re overconfident. We understand that we have a job to do this weekend. A little bit needs to go our way, but we’re fully capable of winning that game.”
Goalkeeper Evan Bush
“We’re excited and we feel re-energized. We’re ready to lock in to this New England team. It’s a very difficult place to play and they have a lot of good pieces. It’s a tricky game, but if we approach it the same way we did the one against Toronto, but with a little more quality, we should be alright.”
Defender Daniel Lovitz
“In terms of what we want to accomplish this weekend, we have to win. I really don’t think there’s much else for us to focus on other than that. It’s about us. The three points are there for the taking. We don’t expect them to lay down by any means, but we have to be the best version of ourselves.”
