LAVAL, Quebec – The Montreal Impact's season started with two games against Pachuca in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals, meaning that many players got a headstart on Eric Alexander and Eric Kronberg.
Everybody else tackled preseason knowing they could be selected for those games. Alexander and Kronberg couldn’t. Participants in New York Red Bulls’ and Sporting Kansas City’s 2014-15 CCL campaigns, they were now ineligible for selection in this competition.
Alexander and Kronberg have both debuted for Montreal and made up for the lost ground somewhat by now. Still, their focus has to shift every so often. Like this week, for example, as they help their team prepare for the second leg of their semifinal tie against Alajuelense, next Tuesday in Costa Rica, knowing that they’ll only get to watch from the stands.
Both players have managed this ride admirably, though, and the Impact technical staff appreciates their professionalism.
“They know this situation well,” assistant coach Mauro Biello told MLSsoccer.com after training on Thursday. “They become important to the others when we go through drills to get ready for Alajuelense. You need to be solid, to be ready to help the others work and be available for league games all the same.”
As an outfielder, Alexander has gotten more chances to build chemistry with his new teammates.
“It’s gone pretty well,” Alexander told MLSsoccer.com. “Obviously we’re still in [CCL], so it’s about managing two completely different things, right now. But it’s gone all right. This last game [the 2-2 home draw against Orlando City] was my first full 90, and I think I was a little bit tired at the end, but it’s normal. Other than that, I think the group’s really bonding, and we’re going to end up playing some pretty good soccer.”
Alexander has said that his role, in the days leading to CCL, is filling in wherever the staff needs him. It’s been similar in his three MLS appearances; Alexander came on as a sub once and got two starts, one at center mid and one at left mid.
All midfield positions are familiar to Alexander, and he does expect players like him to have to play multiple positions going forward.
“Things get bounced around,” Alexander said. “That’s part of the learning process of a new group of guys, being able to understand everybody that’s on the field, and I think that’s something we’re still doing. We have really good players, and I think that, once we get in a good rhythm, we’re going to be a dangerous team.”
As for Kronberg, he played his first minutes for Montreal against Orlando, with Evan Bush only fit for the bench. As a former reserve ‘keeper for Sporting Kansas City, Kronberg is used to dealing with limited playing time. Being cup-tied for CCL is just another hurdle.
Kronberg finds ways to help the team nonetheless. Only last year, Kronberg was drawing valuable lessons from playing in Costa Rica, where Sporting KC missed out on the CCL quarterfinals as they went down 2-0 to Saprissa in the last group stage game.
“It's something that you think about a lot, to let something like that slip away,” Kronberg told MLSsoccer.com. “I really want these guys to be successful and to go all the way. … I know it’s a very difficult place to play. We have to be ready. We have to be aware of their strengths and aware of the situation, what they need to do to win the game and what we need to do to stop them. I think it's important that I can bring a little bit to the table in terms of experience.”
