MONTREAL – Over 10 days, the Montreal Impact have completely transformed and added impressive depth to their midfield.
The signing of Italian Marco Donadel, claiming veteran Nigel Reo-Coker in the Waiver Draft and retaining captain Patrice Bernier – along with Felipe, Calum Mallace, Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé and Louis Béland-Goyette – give Montreal options aplenty for presumably two spots in central midfield and perhaps with their USL PRO affiliate, as well.
Montreal head coach Frank Klopas will take those numbers any day of the week. For him, improving the team lied in building quality depth at every position.
One area has been addressed.
“In MLS, it’s a long season,” Klopas told reporters on Thursday, as the Impact announced that team captain Bernier had re-signed. “The travel, from where we are, is not very easy. So it’s very important that we have quality players in every position, not just one.
“For me, there’s no guarantee of who’s going to play,” Klopas continued. “That’s not granted to anyone because your name is Donadel, because your name is Reo-Coker, because your name is Patrice Bernier. You have to earn that on the field in training and how you play.”
Bernier stayed in Montreal to do just that, though he can tell he is more and more seen as a mentor within the organization. But at age 35, Bernier feels good physically and has preserved his defining qualities: intelligence, control, ball skills.
Negotiations with Bernier appeared to drag on, but both parties never doubted that a deal would be reached. Bernier signed for one season and an option for one more, and he hinted it may be his last contract but added that he would take it “one year at a time.”
“My heart is here,” Bernier said. “I started here, and the goal, when I came back three years ago, was to be part of the project and to be able to finish here. When it’s a bad season, you start to think of everything because at the age that I am you also start reflecting that you want to win, that you want to finish on a good note, knowing that you’ve built something that’s going to carry on.”
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Montreal’s midfield business is likely done.
Donadel was the No. 6 they wanted, and Reo-Coker was their desired No. 8, technical director Adam Braz told MLSsoccer.com. Reo-Coker has played different positions in recent years, but that didn’t come into play in his converations with the Impact.
“I think he knew – and we know – that he’s a center midfielder for us,” Braz said. “What happens in other teams position-wise, we don't care about that. We know that that's his strongest position, and he's going to help us.”
