Grass!

When asked post-game on Wednesday evening, why the Impact appeared to have a better tempo in the game against Portland, than in the games previously at Stade Saputo this season, Remi Garde had a very simple one-word answer.

“Grass.”

Is that it?

“No, I mean I am joking, but a half joke, because you cannot play on a bad pitch and for positive [soccer] and for the entertainment you need to play on a decent field, and the field was decent today.”

“And also regarding the aspect of the game we improved, because we played more simply. We got into good positions on the field, we played one touch, two touches, maximum. We asked for the ball and in front of the ball we had players who wanted to run depths, the kind of runs that can stretch the opponent.”

“Today it was good. We had good collective movement and we moved the ball quicker. I am really happy for the players if they can understand that this is the way we have to play.”

Certainly the surface resembled more of a carpet than the bumpy, hard and yellow field that’s been endured since April.

You cannot control the vagaries of winter, but clearly, it’s an issue the Impact must attempt to address for next season. The Stade Saputo pitch has normally been green in time for outdoor home games to commence in previous seasons (even then there have been one or two exceptions), but this year it’s been a real let-down.

Still, it could be New York City FC’s Yankee Stadium ....

Urruti
On the lack of goal return from Maxi Urruti, Garde was quick to praise his team for creating the chances they did, then backed his striker, “ ... it’s a question of confidence probably for Maxi, but I’m sure the next chance will be in the back of the net.”