Players buy in to club culture
New season, different start for Rémi Garde and his men. The French commander, with a year of experience in MLS under his belt, has now fully instilled his influence in the team, and it shows. The players know what to expect from him, and he knows how to get the most out of his group.
“I think having a sense of familiarity has done a lot for this group, from the staff to the players that have returned, to the new guys that have come in and been very open about integrating into our culture and into this league,” explained left-back Daniel Lovitz. “That isn’t always the case with new players. It’s great. We have a lot of guys who simply want to work and be a part of what we’re putting together.”
The sense of togetherness visible in this group, noticeable from the very beginning of training camp, is something the head coach has been particularly vocal about, and it most definitely came through in the club’s first game of the season, a 2-1 comeback win against the San Jose Earthquakes.
“I made sure everything was in place for it to develop,” said head coach Rémi Garde, meeting the media at Centre Nutrilait on Tuesday morning. “But the merit goes back to the players who understand and accept the way we want to function. I saw players who didn’t play on Saturday react as if they had scored the winning goal. That right there is one of the reasons we won.”
The Impact went down a goal early, a dangerous scenario for your first road game of the season, especially considering the club’s lack of success away from home last year. But Rémi Garde’s men responded immediately, staying calm and sticking to their game plan, scoring twice before the end of the half to take the lead.
“We’re stronger mentally this year,” said midfielder Saphir Taïder. “We learned from the mistakes made last year and of course we know each other a little better. It has fortified and solidified this group. On the field, certain details show the progress we’ve made, and the team is pretty solid.”
This team spirit will continue to be important as the Impact plays its next 5 games on the road, starting this Saturday against the Houston Dynamo, at 5pm at BBVA Compass Stadium (TVA Sports, 98.5, TSN 690).
