Impact players fighting for their jobs, says coach
The Montreal Impact may not be mathematically eliminated from MLS playoff contention, but it seems coach Mauro Biello is already looking ahead to next year.
Biello says he wants to use Montreal’s remaining three games, starting Saturday at the Colorado Rapids (9 p.m., TVA Sports, CJAD 800), to determine who deserves a spot on the team going forward.
“Now players are playing for themselves, for their jobs,” said Biello after Wednesday’s 1-0 loss against New York City FC at Saputo Stadium.
“That’s what’s important now. Guys who want to stay here, guys who want to play for this team, will have to give it their all.”
It would take something of a miracle for the Impact (11-14-6), who have lost six of their last seven games, to reach the post-season for the third consecutive year. Biello’s men are four points out of a playoff spot behind the sixth-place New York Red Bulls, who have a game in hand.
After Colorado, Montreal plays Toronto on the road and then New England at home.
Captain Patrice Bernier, who is set to retire at the end of the season, called the team “lifeless” after its latest home defeat.
“If some guys have given up already, they need to speak up,” he said. “We’re better off playing with players who want to fight until the end.”
Goalkeeper Evan Bush still believes Montreal has a shot at postseason play.
“The least you can do is on game day believe that you can win every individual game,” said Bush.
“That shouldn’t matter if you’re first in the league, last in the league, fighting for a playoff spot — every day you should go into it believing you can win the game. If you don’t, then you’re not a competitor and you don’t deserve to be playing.”
Fortunately for Montreal, Colorado (7-18-5) is the league’s worst team this season. The Rapids have one win in their last 13 games. Their last victory at home was on July 1.
The Rapids were eliminated from the playoffs on Wednesday after a 2-0 loss to FC Dallas.
Montreal will be without Swiss midfielder Blerim Dzemaili, who is suspended for an accumulation of yellow cards. Notes: Impact defender Laurent Ciman (Belgium) and Dzemaili (Switzerland) have been selected by their national teams for UEFA qualification games on Oct. 7 and Oct. 10 . ... The Impact will honour Bernier before and after their last game of the season, on Oct. 22 at Saputo Stadium . ... Rapids forward Kevin Doyle, who spent most of his career with Reading and Wolverhampton in England, announced his retirement on Thursday.