HOPEFUL FOR FUTURE
Strong finish buoys Impact
When a team fails to make the playoffs, professional athletes are loath to suggest where improvements are required, inevitably stating those decisions rest with management.
But on Wednesday, as Impact players cleaned out their lockers and met the media at Centre Nutrilait after missing Major League Soccer’s playoffs for the second consecutive season, midfielder Samuel Piette had no problem offering his two cents’ worth.
“Obviously we need a top striker,” the 23-year-old Repentigny native said. “Every team has one. That’s what we need.”
Montreal completed its season with a 14-16-4 record, finishing seventh in the Eastern Conference, four points removed from the playoffs. The team scored a modest 47 goals in 34 games and, when it required a victory Sunday at New England to keep its faint hopes alive, lost 1-0 after coming out flat against a team that finished below it in the standings.
“For sure, we didn’t create a lot of chances and had some we should have finished,” Piette said. “You gain confidence from having the ball and moving it around. We couldn’t do that.
“We were a bit surprised by the reaction from New England. They had nothing to play for. We couldn’t get the ball and get into areas we wanted. That’s why we couldn’t find a rhythm and were a bit flat.”
Earlier Wednesday, before the dressing room doors opened, the organization announced forward Ignacio Piatti was named the most valuable player for a fourth consecutive season, while goalkeeper Evan Bush was named the defensive player of the year.
Head coach Rémi Garde, who completed his rookie MLS season, is scheduled to address the media Thursday afternoon.
Once again, the Impact fell victim to a discrepancy between its play at Saputo Stadium and on the road. Montreal was 11-4-2 at home, but only 3-12-2 on the road. Ultimately, it was the club’s sluggish start that proved to be its undoing.
The Impact lost 11 of its first 15 games, the players struggling with Garde’s system, tactics, European culture and principles. Never were the growing pains more evident than during a fourgame losing streak, when Montreal surrendered 16 goals. That began a stretch in which the Impact won only once in nine games.
“It was inescapable that we would require time at the beginning to adjust,” defender Daniel Lovitz said. “It was unrealistic to come into a new situation, with so many new pieces, new staff and take off and run. You can’t have blazing success with a new coach and so many new pieces.”
But beginning June 13, the Impact won four consecutive matches, completing its season with 10 victories and four draws in 19 games. The players and coaches started adjusting and feeling more comfortable with each other. As well, they started to play more compact as a unit, relying more on counter-attacks.
The Impact also undoubtedly improved following the August additions of defender Bacary Sagna and midfielder Micheal Azira. At the same time, forward Quincy Amarikwa was acquired in a trade for Dominic Oduro.
With the year’s experience gained by Garde and his staff, combined with the team’s second-half improvement, the players believe hope springs eternal for 2019.
“We have all the pieces, to be quite honest. There’s no reason we can’t win an MLS Cup,” Lovitz predicted. “I think this team, in the past, has proven they can be a major factor in the playoffs.”
On Sunday, Garde said no more than one or two personnel changes are required. One order of business will be signing Bush to a new contract. The 32-year-old native of Concord Township, Ohio, has been with the Impact since 2011 and will be seeking a long-term deal.
“I’ve never had more than one year of security. There’s always been an option year. It adds a little more stress … not knowing your future,” he said.
In other news: American defender Kyle Fisher, a former first-round draft choice, revealed his contract wasn’t being renewed. He missed the entire season with a stress fracture in his left tibia.