MONTREAL – Even if it is still a very hypothetical scenario, the possibility that the Montreal Impact will have to settle again in the United States to play other games in MLS this fall, seems to disrupt many. team players. Particularly Saphir Taïder.
During a videoconference organized by the Impact on Friday afternoon, the midfielder did not hide his deep concern at the idea of having to move away, once again, from his family and his three children. as was the case during the revival tournament in Orlando.
“It’s clear that I don’t prefer to think about it because it would be crazy and illogical. I think of myself, but there are also a lot of players who are in difficult situations. Me, I have a family and even if you don’t have a family, to leave two months, like that, in the United States, for a high level athlete, it is impossible. Because psychologically, after a few weeks, you let go, ”he said.
“Leaving two months is not the solution because psychologically the players will no longer be there. It’s impossible. To play football, you have to be free, to be good in your head, otherwise it spoils half of the show. “
Over the videoconference, Taïder clarified that he had sent his children to France in June and that he had not seen them since. According to what he explained, his children being French, they needed an authorization from the Canadian government to return to the country.
The good news is that Taïder was to meet them on Friday night, when the minds of the vast majority of sports fans in Quebec were going to be turned towards the duel between the Montreal Canadiens and the Philadelphia Flyers.
“If you can imagine, they left at the end of June, it is already the end of August, I did not see them. If we have to leave in three weeks, I cannot leave my children six months out of the year and not see them. It is completely impossible. So if it’s to go there and not be well in my head, I don’t see where the point is because I play football to have fun, to have a smile on the pitch and outside with my teammates. But being this far and this long, no, I can’t. I can’t sacrifice this, it’s impossible. “
A not ideal format
With the children back in the family fold, Taïder will undoubtedly have more peace of mind next Tuesday night as the Impact plays its first game in the Canadian segment of the MLS season’s relaunch.
On the occasion of the visit of the Vancouver Whitecaps, Taïder and his teammates will not only have the opportunity to reconnect with the pitch at Saputo stadium, they will also find a handful of spectators, a maximum of 250.
“It’s good, it makes us happy, especially for them because we will not feel the difference, honestly,” said Taïder.
“A full stadium and 200 people is completely different. But we are happy for them, because they will be able to come to the stadium and have a little fun. “
This Canadian component will have a total of six games for each of the country’s three teams and will, in addition to counting for the regular MLS rankings, to determine the finalist team for the Canadian Soccer Championship.
“It won’t be easy. It will play out, I think, on the details. When you know the team well and you are used to playing against them, it may be a set-piece or a gross mistake by the opposing team that can unlock the match, ”says Taïder.
“It’s true that it’s not the best thing to meet three times in two weeks,” Taïder added. But there you go, the league tried to do its best. We cannot leave Canada, so we have no choice but to accept. It’s like that. We will try to draw the positive points and extract as many points as possible. “
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