Bojan Happy to be Here - Feels the Love ...

Bojan Krkic yesterday, spoke positively of his Montreal experience so far, saying it’s been ‘good’ and ‘better than I expected when I sat here for the first day’, in reference to when he was originally presented to the media upon arrival as a Montreal Impact player.

“I came here after four months without playing and I knew it was a short time for me to get into the team. But after two months I can say I am really happy to be here, to win the Canadian Cup. OK we didn’t get into the play-offs, but the last games we played in the right way, and the way we want to be as a team.”

Having been here for two months now with a chance to survey the league, the former Barcelona starlet even feels the Impact has a team good enough to reach the play-offs, if it can repeat the form shown against New York Red Bulls on Decision Day.

“I think our target for next year is not only to be in the play-offs because play-offs is only the seventh team. I think we are better than that and we need to be like how we played at the end.

“The feeling that I have on the pitch is we played ten times [since I arrived] and I didn’t see a team that is miles better.”

Regarding the style of play in MLS, Bojan acknowledged there are contrasting styles in different leagues, and the more direct patterns of play in MLS, as compared to Spain and Italy for instance, don’t cause him particular problems.

“I have played with Alaves and Stoke City and there you don’t have the ball. It was every time I was looking like this, you know,” a smile breaking on the player’s face as he looked skywards and alternated his head from left to right.

“Here, I am used to have more ball. It’s true that some games you know [are against more] direct teams, especially for example last game. Red Bulls was a team that was [similar to] the way we play in Stoke.

“But we need to play, because we have the players to play good football, and I believe that in playing football you can do good things. You can win the MLS, you can enjoy playing football, having the ball.”

Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images

At only 29 with his undoubted talent, Bojan could have comfortably remained in Europe for several more seasons so what prompted him to think of a move across the Atlantic and to Montreal Impact in particular?

Casually shrugging his shoulders, he responds. “In your career you have to make your decisions. And sometimes you think in advance and 90% of the time of what you think it doesn’t happen, because football is like this.

“So for me, I knew about MLS. I was playing in Europe and before I came here when you know that someone wants you, and when someone loves you, it’s the best feeling you can have.

“If the club is in MLS, or if the club is in Europe, you want to be competitive, you want to play.

“I love football. Football is the thing that makes me most happy in the world. So for me, when Montreal called me and I felt that feeling, I decided to come here.”

Despite having played only two months in the last six, Bojan ruled out a possible return to Europe before resuming his Impact career in early 2020.

“Everyone has their own plans around training these next three months. We are all professionals, we know that we start in January, and within 5 weeks we have an important game. Everyone has the responsibility to come back here ready to train and be good physically.”

Photo by Simon Hofmann/Getty Images

Come January and Champions League, the Impact faithful will welcome Bojan back with open arms, such has been the Spaniard’s influence on the team over a short couple of months.

As pick-ups go, this one promises to be spectacular.

Experience, technique, talent, vision, a goal-scorer, injury-free, and still only 29!

If Bojan stays in the mood, he will one day leave behind a legacy in Montreal that resides comfortably on the same shelf as the very best this club has ever seen.