MONTREAL, Quebec – The Montreal Impact will play its first game under interim head coach Mauro Biello this Saturday, at Stade Saputo, against the Chicago Fire, at 8pm and there is a renewed sense of enthusiasm for the team’s final stretch run for the playoffs.
“The butterflies have never left me, they are always there,” explained Biello about his first official game as head coach. “The key will be to make sure I share some of that energy with the group.”
“We are really looking forward to this one and have put in a lot of time in training,” explained midfielder Calum Mallace. “We sat down as a team and realized how important this stretch is, especially games at home and we need to go get these three points.”
The Chicago Fire (7-13-6) is currently one point behind the Impact in the Eastern Conference standings (27), but has played three more games than the Bleu-blanc-noir. IMFC has an all-time record of 2-3-4 against the Fire, scoring nine goals while allowing 12, but is undefeated at home with a record of 2-0-2, scoring five times while conceding just twice. Goalkeeper Evan Bush has a record of one win, one loss and one tie against Chicago, including two shutouts.
“They are a team that is growing in confidence with two good results last week,” added Biello. “They have a lot of speed on the wings, and they have some players that we need to keep an eye on, but the key for us is what we do on the field. We have to dictate the game.”
The Impact’s depth will be tested as six players are away on international duty: Belgian Laurent Ciman, Cameroonian Ambroise and Eric Miller with the US U23s, along with Costa Rican Johan Venegas and Canadians Maxime Crépeau and Kyle Bekker. Defender Victor Cabrera is suspended for one game following a violent foul against Toronto FC, last Saturday.
However, Designated Players Didier Drogba and Ignacio Piatti will be options for Biello’s first game, with both returning to training this week.
Chicago took all three points against New York Red Bulls in a midweek fixture, and then battled Orlando City SC to a road draw Saturday to get back into the playoff mix. Lineup changes are inevitable with a trio of starters, Matt Polster, Joevin Jones and David Accam, away on international duty.
“They have a lot of speed up top,” added defender Donny Toia. “If we can shut them down and manage their long balls down and contain them, we’ll be in a pretty good spot.”
Following this game, the Impact will embark on a west coast road trip, starting in LA against the Galaxy on Saturday, September 12, at 10:30pm ET (TVA Sports, TSN Radio 690), followed by San Jose on Wednesday, September 16, at 10:30pm against the Earthquakes (TVA Sports, TSN Radio 690). The Impact will play its next home game on Saturday, September 19, at 8pm against New England.
