MONTREAL – After a fine away trip, it's good to be back home.
Back from California with two creditable draws against the LA Galaxy and the San Jose Earthquakes, the Montreal Impact start a three-game home stretch this Saturday, when they host the New England Revolution.
The Impact achieved the second of those California draws without several big guns that interim head coach Mauro Biello rested, including Designated Players Didier Drogba and Ignacio Piatti. But nearly everyone's an option this Saturday, Biello confirmed on Friday afternoon. Long-term injuries aside, only Justin Mapp, who came off with a knock to a toe in LA, and Patrice Bernier, who just returned to training after a bout of plantar fasciitis, are unavailable this Saturday.
“The message I want to send to my players is that it’s not because we’ve played well and gotten results away from home that we can relax because we’re at home,” Biello told reporters. “The approach has to be the same. We must be just as focused. It’ll be tough. I want that mentality for Saturday’s game.
“The guys I [sent back] here trained really hard with FC Montreal,” Biello continued. “Now, we’ll include them in the group today and have a good session to be ready for [Saturday].”
Montreal will be looking, in their next three outings, to restore Stade Saputo's aura of dominance. The Impact have gone 3-3-2 at Stade Saputo since early July in all competitions, scoring 12 goals but also conceding 10.
The first challengers in this home series won't go down without a fight, though. The Revolution lead the Eastern Conference. They’ve picked up seven wins and a tie in their last eight games. It’s a good thing the Impact have most of their options ready and fresh, then.
“They have a lot of young, energetic playmakers, and teams that are made up like that typically go through spurts like that,” goalkeeper Evan Bush said. “It’s the same team that lost [eight] games in a row last year that’s won six in a row this year. They went on streaks like that last year. They've gone on streaks like that this year. You get that from young teams. When they're in a good moment like they are now, it's a very hard team to beat, but at the same time, if you knock them down a little bit, hopefully they can stay down, and we’ll see what we can do with that.”
The well-rested Drogbas and Piattis can help, but on the other side, leading center back Laurent Ciman will be back after one game away with the Belgium national team and a two-game suspension.
“He’s been our best player this year, the best defender in the league,” center back Wandrille Lefèvre said. “Knowing him, he’ll strive to make you forget the fact that he wasn’t here the last three games. He knows that he indirectly penalized the group. He felt guilty a little bit, but those are things that happen. He’s coming back at the right time.”
