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Home » Fitness » Montreal Impact counting on tactics to bridge fitness gap in Concacaf Champions League second leg with Saprissa – MLSsoccer.com

MONTREAL Head coach Thierry Henry was the first to admit that his Montreal Impact team did not have the fitness level to match that of Deportivo Saprissain their Concacaf Champions League clash last week.

They didnt have 90 minutes in them, Henry said. Everybody knew. Its not an excuse, its a fact.

Henry gave credit to Saprissa and their head coach Walter Centeno for how they played in the second half. The Frenchman said that his counterpart changed tactical formations four times during the game in order to help his team get the 2-2 first-leg draw.

Montreal midfielder Samuel Piette admitted that Saprissas tactical changes surprised [them]" a little bit. Since the Impact have not been able to bridge the fitness gap between both clubs in a single week, Piette said Henry focussed on tactics.

This week, we worked on the possibilities that we could be facing [on Wednesday] if theres a change in the scoreline, Piette said. I think that this is how well be able to make up for the lack of fitness on our side.

The Impact started the first leg in spectacular fashion scoring two early goals. Henrys squad can attribute the early success to their five-man backline, which was unseen until last Wednesday. After the Impact coach admitted to not having a great preseason,the tactical change helped his squad get an early result.

Theres something that wasnt working in preseason, you dont have to be that clever to see that it wasnt working, Henry said. You also need to see what the team is offering you and how they respond.

So we went that way and it worked out at the beginning because it surprised them, I think. Are we going to play the same way [Wednesday]? I cant answer that.

The Impact are back home at Olympic Stadium with a 2-2 scoreline and two important away goals. For Montreal native Piette, it is imperative that his squad do not defend for 90 minutes to keep a 0-0 draw.

Its delicate but the most important will be not to be only defending for 90 minutes, Piette said. For one, its very tough physically and secondly, when its been 10 or 15 minutes that you havent had the ball you tend to lose your confidence on the ball.

The Impact will also host their MLS season opener on Saturday when they take on the New England Revolution (3 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in the US, TVAS in Canada). For Saphir Taider, having the first game of the season on the back of their minds will not affect how they play in the CCL.

Its not because were not favorites to win [the CCL] that we need to think of it as a bonus, Taider said. We need to play this competition with a desire to win and to go all the way. The team did it five years ago so why not this year?

Its modern football. Its the football of today where games follow each other and we need to do it too and play every three days. Its part of our jobs so its not really a problem.

As for Henry, being available to play even on a two-game week is whats expected of a soccer player.

Theyre here to be able to play and whoever is going to be fit to play is going to be at our disposal to start the game against New England, Henry said. Thats what you expect from your team, whatever game it is.

However, Henry added that he will delay his thought process for Saturdays formation until the final whistle of Wednesday's CCL affair.

For me, there is a sense of urgency in every game, Henry said. Now, does it have an influence on how were going to play against New England? I can only tell at the end of the game. Because I didnt expect that we would lose two players in the first 27 minutes of our first game. Thats something that you cannot predict. Lets see how well finish the game against Saprissa.

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Montreal Impact counting on tactics to bridge fitness gap in Concacaf Champions League second leg with Saprissa - MLSsoccer.com

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Home » Fitness » Montreal Impact counting on tactics to bridge fitness gap in Concacaf Champions League second leg with Saprissa – MLSsoccer.com