Who Will Step up in Rod Fanni’s absence

It’s been announced that former Marseille defender, Rod Fanni has a minor muscular injury and may be sidelined. This unfortunate news could be a considerable blow to Remi Garde’s side if the injury lasts longer than expected. Rod Fanni has been a calming presence on the defensive line since signing a contract that runs through June 30th, 2018, with an option for the remainder of the season. Subtracting the acquisition of Fanni, the Impact’s defensive corps was already in a shallow state with newcomer Zakaria Diallo sidelined for the foreseeable future as well as the departure of Laurent Ciman via trade. The absence of Rod Fanni will be felt throughout the starting 11.

The 36-year-old was brought into the fold to alleviate the defensive depth after Zakaria Diallo succumbed to an untimely injury. His experience at the highest level in Europe was a contributing factor to his signing. In the early going, he’s been a staple in the starting 11. He’s shown a true ability to cross and dribble the ball in his short time with the Impact. Certain players will need to ride the ship defensively in the absence of Fanni, even if it is just one game.

Despite making his debut just a week ago against the New York Red Bulls, newly acquired, Rudy Camacho will likely be thrust into the spotlight. This is his chance to prove his worth to Impact manager, Remi Garde. It’s absolutely crucial for the Frenchman to bring his A-game on the defensive spectrum with Fanni sidelined. Camacho’s greatest strength is to challenge aerial duels, which is a visible weakness in the Impact’s game.

Additionally, it's a necessity for Chris Duvall to elevate his game and limit his mistakes defensively as well as keeping his discipline in check.

We can’t shoulder all the responsibility on the Impact’s defensive. Nacho Piatti, Jeisson Vargas, Alejandro Silva, Anthony Jackson-Hamel, Matteo Mancosu and Saphir Taider will need to find ways to score and create scoring opportunities to keep the ship afloat.

Most importantly, Victor Cabrera will need to play fantastic football down the stretch. It’s well known that the Argentinian centreback is phenomenal at tackling and his sheer ability to intercept a pass and/or cross helps the Impact to a wide degree to retaining the ball. Cabrera’s time to show his importance on the pitch is now.

Overall, everyone will need to step up their game to another level in the absence of Rod Fanni.

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