The defensive will the Impact to rise to the surface?

Photo: Michael Perez, Associated Press
Defender Laurent Ciman was about to hit the ball with his head during a clash between the Montreal Impact and the Union of Philadelphia.

Each time the Impact has seemed to regain his confidence this season, montreal has taken a step back.

The men of Mauro Biello signed two wins in a row on a single occasion in 2017, may 30, in the face of the Vancouver Whitecaps in the canadian championship, and then on June 3, in the face of the Red Bulls of New York in the MLS. However, after a 2-0 victory against d.c. United last Saturday, some signs allow for the most optimistic to believe that the Impact has finally the wind in the sails.

“Defensively, it was good to keep the zero behind, has mentioned the rear side Chris Duvall, Monday, when you return to training. We conceded a lot of goals this season. We escaped the advances late in the game. We made goals in the beginning of the meeting.

“To have been able to take the lead and preserve the shutout, it gives you confidence, and we need to build on this result. “

Laurent Ciman and Kyle Fisher were the central defenders during each of the three shutouts this season for the Impact — including two against D. C. United, the worst offensive of the circuit.

Surprising Fisher

If the role of Ciman in the success of the Impact is not surprising, that Fisher may surprise a few. The American 23-year-old is only in his second season among professionals, having been selected by the Impact with the 14th overall in the SuperDraft the MLS in 2016.

“In the interview, he was focused and he was well prepared, told Biello about the first contact with Fisher before the draft. This is an important quality. And in a year and a half, he has always made the necessary preparation. He focuses on what he can control.

“He watches videos, he is attentive, he asks questions. When he got a chance to play, he took it. “

The duo of Fisher-Ciman started 10 meetings since the first experiment on April 29. Ciman had preached patience in the beginning, but he himself acknowledges that the two have become very comfortable on the ground.

“He is a young player. I talk to him a lot and he listens a lot, has mentioned the Belgian 31-year-old. I explained to him how I play and he told me how he plays. We come to hear us, and we have developed automated systems. I had said in the beginning, the more we jouerions together, the more we would know, and the better it would go. This is the case now. We no longer need to speak with us to learn what to do. “

Ciman mentor

Ciman seems to have accepted the role of mentor to Fisher, but he even recognized that he could learn from his young partner, who is “best in the duels,” according to him.

Often posted to the front row alongside Ciman or Fisher, Duvall believes that the complementarity of the two players is the strength of the duo.

“Fisher is a hard one that isn’t afraid to just go for it. “Lolo” is very calm with the ball and not afraid of anything, said Duvall, who missed only two meetings this season. There is a nice balance between the two. It is a beautiful complicity that has developed between the two. “

Moreover, Biello said on Monday that midfielder Ignacio Piatti could make a return to the game on July 19, when the Union of Philadelphia will be coming to Stade Saputo. Piatti suffered a “small injury” to the adductors. Biello pointed out, however, that Piatti could miss one more week, depending on the speed at which the wound will heal.

Biello was also announced that midfielder Andrés Romero (thigh) and the back left side Daniel Lovitz (knee) will be available Wednesday, when the Impact will visit the Dynamo of Houston.