The Montreal Impact’s Designated Player, Ignacio Piatti, spoke to the media at Centre Nutrilait on Thursday morning, in preparation for the team’s game against Orlando City SC, this Saturday at 7:30pm (TVA Sports, 98,5fm, TSN Radio 690). With the team having won two of its last three games, including a 3-0 shutout victory last Wednesday against Saturday’s opponents, and with Argentina playing Croatia, Nacho sure had a lot to say. Here is a summary of this morning’s presser with the Argentine.
On the team’s confidence
It’s always harder when things aren’t going well. It isn’t good for us mentally. But now we’ve won a few games and we’re only four points away from a playoff spot. It’s good for us, for our training sessions, and for our confidence. The team has improved a lot, and we hope to go to Orlando and continue in this way.
On the fact that the Impact is four points out of a playoff spot
It’s extra motivation. Especially since we have two games at home after. It’s good for our confidence, and we hope to get the win in Florida as well, and then come back home for two games at Stade Saputo.
On what the team needs to do to improve offensively
It’s important to keep possession of the ball. It’s great, because we run a lot less if we have the ball, and it’s much harder for our opponent to try and get it back. We need to do that more.
On their opponents’ coaching change
It doesn’t change anything for us. We’re approaching this game in the usual way and we’re training the same way as well. I know Orlando played on Wednesday night, but we’re only thinking about Saturday. It’ll be a difficult game. They changed coaches and they’ll want to win at home. But we need to think of our game and not theirs to prepare in the right way.
On Argentina’s matchup against Croatia
It’s a very big game for Argentina. They need to win. Croatia is a good team. It’ll be difficult. I hope they win, because it’s a very important game for Argentina as a whole.
On the pressure on Lionel Messi
Everybody says that same thing, but Messi is only one player. He does what he has to do, but if there are always five players on him, there isn’t much he can do. The team will look different since they made four changes, so we’ll wait and see.
