Impact Announce Pre-season Plans

Montreal Impact this morning disclosed details of its next training camp scheduled to begin earlier than usual on January 14. The initial camp will be at Complexe Marie-Victorin.

Two days later the squad flies on to Florida, where preparation continues in Orlando until January 29. After that it’s back to Montreal for a brief stay before leaving again for Florida on February 3, settling in St. Petersburg for the fifth consecutive year.

The preseason game schedule has not yet been announced. Over recent seasons the Impact has used the Suncoast Invitational tournament for warm-up games, although it remains unclear if this tournament will have a 2020 edition.

The Impact will leave Florida to head to San Jose, Costa Rica, for its first CONCACAF Champions League game for almost 4 years between February 18-20, exact date yet to be confirmed.

The return game in Montreal against Deportivo Saprissa will take place the following week at Stade Olympique, again exact date yet to be confirmed.

That’s two big games scheduled for The Big O within the space of a few days. Montreal Impact play at home on MLS opening weekend for the first time in its history, February 29 v New England Revolution.

Anxious Impact fans are likely to remain wary until they hear of some new player arrivals, particularly defenders. It’s getting close to the holidays, then right after, Training Camp begins. The squad is still quite patchy and threadbare, and players will need time to settle in.

After not playing Champions League soccer for four full seasons, the last thing Impact fans will want to experience is an early exit, especially as the tournament offers healthy international exposure for the club.

Undoubtedly Messers Renard, Henry et al have been working diligently on finding the type of quality player to bring success and also getting the deals over the line. It would be encouraging to see some signings confirmed however.

Thierry Henry just last midweek was working for UK TV at the Liverpool v Everton Premier League game. You suspect and trust some other European business was undertaken too on the same trip.