That is why, in addition to signing long-term deals with key players such as Mauro Biello, Greg Sutton and Gabriel Gervais in recent months, the club has acquired players like Kirk Wilson, Mauricio Salles, Daniel Antoniuk and Leonardo Di Lorenzo. All of a sudden, the Impact has two of last season’s three League MVP finalists, as well as four of the players who finished in the USL top 10 in terms of goals and points in 2005.
“We went out and acquired dangerous players, players who will create problems to the opposing defense,” said De Santis. “We’ve proven the last couple of years that we’re the best in the league defensively, that our system is very sound and our players disciplined, and that’s where our success has come from. But we also wanted to bring something more in the offensive third of the field. With 10,000 to 12,000 people in the stands every game, it’s only normal that we want to give an exciting team to the fans."
“During a game, I’m just like them. I like to watch my team play, to see my players express themselves on the field.”
De Santis says he has worked on giving a more offensive slant to his team ever since he was hired as head coach, before the start of the 2004 season. Ironically, this has led to the Impact being more dominating than ever defensively!
“When you talk about playing more offensively, it ultimately means you want to score more goals, and it hasn’t really been the case over the last two seasons,” De Santis readily admits. “But it has translated into more ball possession. We’ve dictated the pace of games. Teams now have to adjust to us, whereas in the past, we adjusted to them.”
Recent acquisitions are therefore a continuation of the work started by De Santis two years ago.
The Impact’s recent success may suprise some, considering what relatively little experience De Santis had as a head coach in the pro ranks. But his record speaks for itself. In two years at the helm of the Montreal team, he has one league championship plus a regular-season title, several club and league records have been set by his players, and he was proclaimed USL Coach of the Year last season after being a finalist in that category the previous year.
“It was important for me to surround myself with experienced and competent people, and I’ve been spoiled from that standpoint,” says De Santis. “(Team Manager) Mike Moretto has been my right-hand man, taking care of everything that happens off the field. And (assistant coach) Peter Pinizzotto, with his seven years of experience as a head coach, is someone I can share opinions with day in, day out.”
De Santis also acknowledges the help and cooperation of his former teammates.
“I had the right leaders on the team,” says De Santis. “They understood that I was now going to have to make certain decisions, and that they had to accept them, just like I had to accept that they won’t always like them."
“When they see a player like Mauro Biello come out of a game and accept it, and work to come back even stronger the following game, it generates an energy that goes to all the players."
“As for myself, I knew the mentality of this team as a player and an assistant coach, and I’ve tried to bring the same intensity that I had as a player, some positive energy. And to their credit, the players have always been ready to fight to win.”
