MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact may have just vacated the last spot in the Eastern Conference, but the word “first” has been ever-present recently when discussing the team.
Two weekends ago, Laurent Ciman scored Montreal’s first MLS goal on a set play – excluding penalty kicks – since Oct. 19, 2013. It helped them pick up their first win in MLS since Sept. 20, 2014. Last Saturday, they embarked on their first winning streak since that last win in MLS with a 2-1 victory over FC Dallas. And this Saturday, in Chicago against the Fire (8:30 pm ET; MLS LIVE), Montreal have an opportunity to register their first MLS road win since Sept. 8, 2013.
Head coach Frank Klopas had a clear point to make this week: If the Impact are to make the MLS Cup Playoffs this season, they have to find ways to get points away from home. In 2014, they picked up five points on the road, scoring only 14 goals.
This season, Montreal have so far proven that they can score. What Klopas wants is a more complete effort over 90 minutes.
“The last game, the last 15 minutes, we were under a lot of pressure,” Klopas told reporters earlier this week. “As a team, our mentality has to be that if we’re able to get that second goal, we have to walk away with a result. Stretches of the game are much better, but overall, we need to play more of a complete game over 90 minutes with our focus and concentration.”
Added defender Wandrille Lefevre: “If we manage to get [that road win], of course it’ll do us good. Then, to be honest, it’s not something we tell ourselves every day, thinking we can’t do it. It’s not on our minds. Obviously, we’ll have to take that step, because if you want to make the playoffs, you need road points.”
Those who followed Montreal’s CONCACAF Champions League run can grasp the irony in all this. The Impact, such a struggling team on the road in MLS, twice advanced in the CCL thanks to road results.
Montreal’s CCL game plan was to absorb pressure and counter at speed. They do want to apply it in MLS at certain times, but teams are more conscious of the threat they pose now – as was seen in Houston on April 11, when the Dynamo punished Montreal on turnovers and counters in a 3-0 rout.
- Get more Montreal news at ImpactMontreal.com
The Impact’s comments this week indicate that they have learned from that. Team captain Patrice Bernier, for one, insisted that it was not up to his team to dictate the play in Chicago on Saturday.
“We can see, when there are gaps, how strong we are,” Bernier said. “But now, we’re a bit better in managing the weaker moments of the team. And we’re better in managing the ball as well, so we don’t suffer throughout the game. Often, in recent games, we've had control over the game, and it’s really in the last 10, 15 minutes that we suffered. It’s normal; the other team pushes, plays long balls.
“[We’ll be fine] if we play with the same mindset as in the last games – the same attitude, mostly, because I can feel everyone working,” Bernier continued. “I don’t mean to say that everyone wasn’t working before, but we weren’t on the same page during games. Now, we feel that the team’s dynamics carries on [progressing], and two wins build morale.”
One crucial factor comforted Montreal in their choice to play on the counter in CCL: relishing the underdog role throughout. In MLS, though, it is a different story – especially this weekend, according to Lefevre.
“This weekend, we’re on par with the other team,” Lefevre said. “Both teams didn’t make the playoffs last year. Both teams normally have the squads, the budgets, the history – although we’re a younger team – to be able to perform. I think both teams have to change the face that they showed last year.”
