MONTREAL -- “It’s special for him and for us. We want to get a result for him. He gets here and works so hard with us.”
Impact midfielder Felipe is well aware of the unfamiliar task that awaits head coach Frank Klopas this Saturday at the Olympic Stadium: trying to stymie the team he was a player, technical director and head coach for, the Chicago Fire.
In those circumstances, Felipe’s will to win for him seemed to flatter Klopas all right, but the Montreal boss saw those good intentions as a two-way street.
“I'm really honored and blessed to have an opportunity to be a part of this organization and to have a chance to work with this group of players. They’ve been fantastic, and for me, I want [to win] for them,” Klopas told reporters on Thursday. “Because they've earned it. It would mean something special.”
Still, Klopas is not belittling what this Saturday will mean for him. It will be his first time coaching against his former team, which parted ways with him on October 30, 2013, after the Fire missed out on the MLS Cup Playoffs due to Montreal scoring three more goals than them over the course of the season.
“Chicago’s my home,” Klopas said. “It’s where I started my career. The Fire gave me an opportunity to be involved with the game. It has a special place in my heart, but now, my team is the Montreal Impact. This is where I work. I really love this city here, the fans have been great.”
And the entire club, Klopas said, is striving to make a first win this season a reality.
“The first win is going to be sweet, no matter who it’s against,” Klopas said.
Even his former team.
