‘I’d give anything to be there’: Bush
Suspended ‘keeper sees CCL final as massive opportunity for players
There probably was a moment on Monday when Evan Bush wanted to punch the wall, scream out in agony or, perhaps, even shed a tear. We’ll never know.
But now that he has had time to grasp the reality of the situation, the Impact goalkeeper isn’t seeking any empathy. Bush will be nothing more than a spectator Wednesday night, when Montreal plays the final leg of its CONCACAF Champions League final against Club America at Olympic Stadium.
He has been suspended following an accumulation of yellow cards in CCL play. Had fate not delivered this cruel blow, it’s unlikely the Impact would have acquired Kristian Nicht through a transfer with Indy Eleven Monday night — hours after Montreal learned CONCACAF had rejected its appeal of Bush’s suspension.
Nicht is expected to start in goal for Montreal on Wednesday.
“There was a moment where I wasn’t happy about it for sure, but I had to move on. I can’t feel sorry for myself,” Bush, 29, told reporters Tuesday afternoon — the first time he has publicly commented since the decision was rendered.
“It’s not about my situation. It’s about what this team and club has done to get to this point. It’s a massive opportunity for every single guy,” Bush continued. “I hope they can take the excitement and energy I’m missing out on and can put it into the game. It’s a great opportunity, and I’d give anything to be there.”
Bush, as he said Sunday morning before practice, wasn’t expecting the appeal to be overturned. And he maintains he did nothing wrong against Alajuelense in the semifinal, when he was carded for delaying the game, nor last week in Mexico City.
“I still don’t feel I was in the position to get yellow cards. I’ve gone over it quite a few times in my head. I don’t feel like I deserved to get those cards,” he said. “Certainly there are things you can do differently. You have to be aware of the situation you’re in — not only the yellow cards, but how the game’s being called. There are certain things I would do differently next time, knowing how the game’s being called.”
Bush, who replaced Troy Perkins late last season as the Impact’s starter, believes his status won’t change although, with Nicht’s arrival, there are four goalkeepers on the roster. He also has endorsed the addition of Nicht, who was with the team during training camp and backed him up during the CCL quarter-final against Pachuca. Bush said the transition will be seamless.
“The biggest part isn’t who’s the best goalkeeper (for the final game), it’s who can handle the moment the best,” Bush explained.
“There will be 60,000 people. It’s the Champions League final. It’s more than just catching the ball and kicking the ball that you do in training. You have to be able to handle the pressure of the moment.”
Costa Rica’s Henry Bejarano will be the referee on Wednesday.