Biello alters routine in attempt to end slide
Impact coach lightens the mood during practice as team searches for balance
It would be easy to suggest Impact players don’t have a care in the world, given the amount of frivolity that was apparent as the team — winners of only one of eight Major League Soccer games this season — began Thursday’s training session at Centre Nutrilait.
While goalkeeper Evan Bush believes there’s plenty of soccer remaining to be played, he denied the team is taking its precarious position lightly.
“When you’re in a tough moment, I think you have to guard against being too serious, too,” he said following the 90-minute practice. “You need to still enjoy what you’re doing. When you have that light feeling and positive energy going into training, the work rate will come.
“There’s frustration for sure at certain points, but you want that in training. We’ve had light moments and frustrating moments. That’s a microcosm of what a game is, too.”
The Impact (1-3-4) has one remaining session before departing for Washington and a Saturday game against D.C. United (6 p.m., TVA Sports, TSN Radio 690). Montreal is still coming to grips with its first home defeat last weekend against Vancouver, combined with the loss of striker Matteo Mancosu, out six to eight weeks with a thigh injury.
The Impact eliminated D.C. United at RFK Stadium in the opening-round of the playoffs last season and Mancosu scored twice in the 4-2 victory.
Head coach Mauro Biello has taken a slightly different approach in practice this week, adjusting the team’s workload Tuesday and Wednesday, in an attempt to end the funk. There have been some fun drills along with others exclusively designed to improve factors that continue to plague this team.
“You need to be creative as a staff in difficult moments and try to put the players in the best conditions,” he said. “I need to find that balance so the team can find its way out of the situation.”
The organization’s attempting to hold its head high, comparing its situation with that of Seattle’s last season. The Sounders at one juncture were 10 points out of a playoff position before going on a run, culminating in a championship victory at Toronto. The Impact reached the Eastern Conference final, but lost the two-game aggregate to the Reds, squandering a three-goal lead in the opening match.
“It’s been a bumpy first part for sure. Obviously everybody’s disappointed. We feel we should be higher in the standings,” Biello said. “The season’s long. Because of the parity, a few wins turns things around and pushes the confidence and mindset.
“That’s what I’m expecting from this group, to turn this around. You need to face difficult moments to be a top team. This is one.”
The Impact historically has been a team that likes to counter-attack. While the squad has attempted to change its philosophy, generally improving its possession time, it has become a victim of the same tactic it used for success. Just as Montreal was starting to create scoring opportunities against the Whitecaps, a counter-attack by the visitors in the 80th minute led to the winning goal.
The margin of error has become that thin for Montreal.
“Some teams are going to wait for you to make that mistake and are going to punish you. Typically, it’s a successful way to do it,” Bush explained. “We’ve been successful like that in the past ... letting the other teams have possession and hurting them in transition. But come playoff time, you want to have more dictation over who has the ball and when.
“There’s only so far you can play a pessimistic style. You have to have balance. We’re working at finding it. I think it’s coming.”
Not only will the Impact encounter a side intent on exacting revenge, it will find one coming off an emotional high following a 3-1 victory at Atlanta last Sunday, its first road victory of the year, improving to 3-3-2. D.C. United has 6-foot-3 goalkeeper Bill Hamid, expected to play despite suffering a groin injury against Atlanta, along with 33-year-old veteran French forward Sébastien Le Toux, with two goals in his last two games.
“He’s a dangerous player who brings an extra aspect,” said right fullback Chris Duvall. “He’s quick and can get in behind. He finds good spaces and is a good finisher. We definitely have to keep our eye on him.”
Impact midfielder and captain Patrice Bernier was held out of practice on Thursday. He has some pain in one knee and has accumulated many minutes this season, Biello explained. While Biello believes Bernier can play Saturday, the two will converse before reaching a decision.
It’s been a bumpy first part for sure. Obviously everybody’s disappointed.