The French centre back determined to impress in new season
It really hasn’t been the easiest of roads for Zakaria Diallo. After joining the Impact during the offseason over a year ago, the French defender was slated to be a pillar in Montreal’s back four. His training camp ranked among one of the team’s best and his play during preseason was excellent to say the least.
But, as happens often in sport, things didn’t go as planned. Diallo would go on to suffer an Achilles tendon injury during training just a few days before the first game of the season. He would undergo surgery, keeping him out of the line-up for the duration of the campaign, leaving a hole in the Bleu-blanc-noir’s defense.
He would go on to spend over three months in a cast, followed by months of rehabilitation, working extremely hard to get himself back to where he was after training camp; it’s by no means an easy road, especially considering this was the second time Diallo had to return from this type of injury. It’s a gruelling, lonely process.
Those who know Diallo shouldn’t be too surprised to see him exactly where he was a year ago. Always smiling, always with a positive attitude, the former Ligue 2 player has been once again impressive thus far in this year’s training camp. He’s imposing in defense and his vision moving the ball forward, and quickly, is particularly striking.
Everything seems set for this to be the year Bleu-blanc-noir fans get to see Zakaria Diallo play his first MLS minutes – fingers crossed.
“It’s having mental strength that’s important,” explained Diallo, speaking to Impact Media in Sarasota, Florida, in between sessions. “I’ve always been strong mentally and in football, that’s especially important. On my end, I never gave up or asked myself any questions. I came back and I knew I was going to come back. Now, I need to continue moving forward.”
Still lots to prove
With the season kicking off on March 2 against the San Jose Earthquakes in California, there’s still plenty of time for head coach Rémi Garde to think about his first starting 11. The Bleu-blanc-noir has five preseason games on its schedule, the first one coming tonight against FC Cincinnati.
Diallo knows nothing is certain going into the 2019 season. Coming back from injury officially during the month of August, the French centre back didn’t see any playing time for the remainder of 2018, only playing in a friendly against Ottawa Fury FC in early September.
“You always have to prove yourself,” added Diallo. “That’s football. You never stop pushing yourself. The injury last year was tough. It leaves me with a lot to prove today. But I’m determined and I feel like I’m seeking revenge. That’s how I would put it.”
For now, Diallo is focusing on what he can control: his play at camp. The tall defender made it through Robert Duverne’s gruelling preparation during the first few days with no issues, clearly happy to be back in the mix with his teammates. His play during scrimmages is intense, exemplified when he slid to make a goal line clearance on a Nacho Piatti shot that looked bound to go in, earlier in the week.
“I want to prepare in the best way possible. There are still a few weeks of training camp left. I want to approach the first game of the season being at the maximum of my capacities in every part of my game. I’m looking forward to a huge season with the Impact, concluded Diallo.”
