Here’s what some of the team had to say after training in preparation for the Amway Canadian Championship on Wednesday:
FRANK KLOPAS
On the long schedule upcoming…
Right now, it’s a question of who is healthy and put the best team out there. We are dealing with injuries right now as well, so that all come into play on deciding who will play. We’ve given a lot of guy’s opportunities to play this season and we will continue to do that all season long.
On playing FC Edmonton…
We are bringing some younger guys with us to this game, but there is no way we will underestimate our opponent. It’s a two-game series. We have to be focused with the travel and playing on turf. It’s a great opportunity for us to keep the trophy.
KARL W. OUIMETTE
On some of Edmonton’s young attacking players…
We got a chance to see them play and they have a young player, a 17-year-old (Boakai) who is really fast. But, it’s nothing that we can’t handle. If I was in their shoes, I would want to have the game of my life to prove myself in this type of game, so we have to be aware of that.
On whether or not the Canadian Cup is a little more special for him as a Canadian…
As a Canadian, you want to prove that Montreal, and Quebec is the best in soccer. I experienced that as a young player as well, playing in national tournaments against Ontario and B.C. These are tournaments I like very much as there is a little added competition.
JÉRÉMY-GAGNON LAPARÉ (Impact U23)
On making the roster for the first team in an official competition game…
It’s a great opportunity for me. It’s the first time that I get to travel with the team in an official first team game situation, so I have to take as much out of it as I can to continue to grow and improve as a player. This trip is definitely special for me as a Canadian player because it is the tournament to determine the best team in my home country. But, we have to make sure that we keep things in perspective, approach it as any other game and get a result down there.
On the message from the coaching staff…
The coaches have told me that they like my attitude and the things that I’ve been doing in training right now, so they just want me to keep doing that. I have to keep the same mentality and be ready to play if called upon.
