Return to defensive values essential in playoff race
It’s been a rollercoaster of a season for the Bleu-blanc-noir thus far to say the least. For the Impact to be contending for a playoff spot in this final stretch of the season is an accomplishment in itself, considering the team had nine points after 13 games.
Of course, that dark period was followed by five wins in the next six games, including four consecutive clean sheets, propelling the Impact back to relevance in the Eastern Conference standings.
For head coach Rémi Garde, a return to those values is what the team needs to close out the season in a positive way.
“We can’t forget the story of our season,” said head coach Rémi Garde. “The difficult start, and how and why we came back from that. What principles allowed us to get better, and with what state of mind did we apply them. It’s been a few games now that we’re straying from that. We’ve conceded a goal in seven consecutive games, which proves my point. We were much more hermetic. There’s a lot to learn from this game, and that’s what I’ll be focusing on this week.”
Another big test
This weekend’s opponent won’t be any easier; the New York Red Bulls are second in the Eastern Conference behind only Atlanta United – with both teams leading the race for the Supporters’ Shield – and have just one loss in their last nine games.
For the Impact to be successful, a return to its strong defensive performances will be a must.
“We need to rediscover our collective values, and work on the base that enabled us to win games,” said defender Rudy Camacho. “Without our values, it will be difficult to beat teams like the New York Red Bulls. We need to focus on ourselves and on what we need to do to win this game.”
The Impact is still in the sixth and last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, and despite its loss to Toronto FC, the focus remains the same: qualifying for the MLS Cup playoffs.
“We have a lot of experienced players on the team and they all want to win,” said midfielder Micheal Azira. “That’s the best part. Everyone is pushing each other and we’re all on top of each other. After the game against Toronto, the first thing we said was that it wasn’t good enough. We need to hold each other accountable to get better results.”
