However, the team’s main objective, this Thursday in Portland against the Timbers (10 pm) and next Friday, September 8 against the Toronto Lynx at Claude-Robillard Sports Complex (7:30 pm, CJAD 800, Sport Plus XM-172), will be first and foremost to give a solid performance.
With the thought in mind, of course, of kicking off the playoffs on the right foot, since the ultimate goal remains to win the league championship, as the Montreal club did in 1994 and 2004.
“We want to finish first, but we also want to go into the playoffs with a healthy team,” says captain Mauro Biello.
“Above all, we want to send a message to other teams that we’ll be on top of our game and that they’ll have to be ready,” says midfielder Patrick Leduc.
Last sunday’s win in Sherbrooke, 2-0 against the Virginia Beach Mariners, was a good step towards that goal, especially considering that it put an end to a rare dry spell — of four games without a win (0-3-1).
“We want to finish the season on a positive note,” says defender Adam Braz. “We’re focusing on first place but the real objective is to do well in the playoffs. We have learned from last year and hopefully we will get to the final and win it.”
Head coach Nick De Santis would love to see everything settled by then, because that would allow him to better prepare his squad for the playoffs.
“If we’re in a good position towards the end of the schedule, we’ll be able to play the players who haven’t had much playing time so far, and allow others to recuperate and nurse certain injuries,” he says.
This is the 10th time in 13 seasons of existence that the Impact will be part of the playoff picture, and the fifth straight year.
“We have a solid club with a great mentality. It proves how great this organization is,” says Braz. “We also have to give credit to all the players that have played with the Impact in the past years.”
After seeing the Montreal club have more than its share of success in the 1990s, the organization was able to put the train back on track after the club’s relaunch in 2002, points out Leduc.
“At first, the objective was to make the playoffs and that was a big step, but now, it’s part of the many goals we expect to reach year after year,” he says. “Our good track record is the result of our hard work.”
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