The Impact U14 flew to Portugal last Friday to take part in the IberCup, a prestigious international youth tournament. Head coach Nicolas Gagnon and his team will play three group games in three days before the playoff round begins.
Group phase:
- Tuesday, June 30 vs SF Damaiense (Portugal)
- Wednesday, July 1 vs RC Deportivo Coruna (Spain)
- Thursday, July 2 vs NS Alcabideche (Potugal)
Nicolas Gagnon answered some questions on the significance of this tournament for his team, the Academy and the club.
What are you aiming for in this tournament?
The first goal is that each player becomes a better player and a better person after this trip. They need to learn from this experience on and off the field, about the way we want to play in this competition. We will face good clubs. It will be a good opportunity to test the way these players will prepare in relation to our game principles. We will also be able to see how we deal with the what the opponents will show us on the pitch.
What does it mean to represent the club abroad?
It’s the second time I am traveling with the Montreal Impact, after going to France with the U21 four years ago. We are not always taken seriously because we come from Canada. Going to Portugal and proving that in Canada and even further, at the Impact, we work well and have quality players. It’s really meaningful. We can also prove to Portugal, Spain and other countries with a long, historical football culture, that we are just as good. We are the only team from Canada in our category.
How did you prepare for this trip?
We always pay particular attention to what we do during preparation, but the games stay the same. We only have to keep putting emphasis on our game principles that we put in place during the whole year. We reduced the work time a bit so the players can be fresher, but the way we work doesn’t change because we go to Portugal.
Does this type of tournament mean something different for players in this age category?
It’s special for this age category at the Academy. This team doesn’t play in an official competition and some players will join the U16 in August in the USSDA. Having an event where it really counts helps us evaluate if they can deal with the emotions that comes with results, to see if we can stick to our game principles no matter what. It’s good preparation.
Is it also a good evaluation for the players?
Every day is an evaluation. This tournament won’t be used to take immediate decisions. But it will help us evaluate where the player is in his development and see his reaction when he faces difficulties.
