After many weeks of speculation, the rumours have finally come to an end and there will be a star in Montreal, in the form of Didier Drogba. The Impact acquired his MLS rights from the Chicago Fire, for an amount in excess of $100,000, and have an offer sheet for the former Chelsea striker worth $3 million/season over 18 months, according to ESPN. The acquisition of such a force on the attack couldn’t have come at a better time for the club.
Currently sitting in sixth in the Eastern Conference, the team is holding down the final playoff spot over Orlando City SC because they have played two games less, but have the same number of points. The Impact has played the least number of games in the league (18) because of postponed matches in the spring when the team was on their way to the CONCACAF Champions League Final. Montreal has games in hand over other teams battling for playoff positions, including five over the New England Revolution, who are in fifth and four points ahead of the Impact.
The situation seems all sweet-and-dandy now, but as the season grows older, the Impact will have tougher and more compact schedules, making the task of reaching a playoff spot, harder to reach. Including their Canadian Championship Final against Vancouver, Montreal only has six games which follow a week of rest, while they also play six Wednesday night games, sandwiched between weekend games. This includes three trips out West in a three-week spam, in Vancouver, L.A. and San Jose before having to travel to Colorado in October.
Two years ago the Impact was playing their best soccer in franchise history, hovering near the top of the standings, the team played a much less-gruelling schedule from August through October but faltered down the standings, just managing to grab the final playoff spot, and only lasting 90 minutes in the post-season dance.
Marco Di Vaio acted as the designated player in 2013 and the Italian striker was able to change the game on his own powers. Even with him and Alessandro Nesta as the stars, the team failed to produce results. In 2015, Drogba will be the added bonus to the dynamic duo of the central defender Laurent Ciman and attacking-mid Ignacio Piatti, both of whom are leaders and can produce attack when needed. Ciman scored the lone-goal from a set piece in the 89th minute on Saturday.
Currently, two of the team’s strikers, Kenny Cooper and Cameron Porter, are both in the hospital ward with long-term injuries. Romario Williams and Anthony Jackson-Hamel are both rookies and aren’t likely to start as a striker in league play anytime soon. That leaves Dominic Oduro and Jack McInerney as the only two starting strikers in Montreal. The acquisition of Drogba was very much needed as the team couldn’t rely on them two to score, as they are both inconsistent and unpredictable when it comes to producing results.
Drogba is a perfect fit for Montreal on and off the pitch. They are in need of a striker of his caliber and he can help out the club tremendously through the autumn months. Off the field, Drogba will be a very popular man in the city. Hailing from Cote D’Ivoire, a francophone country, Drogba will be able to communicate with the media and fans in the francophone city. Ciman and Patrice Bernier are the only two French-speaking stars that the fans enjoy watching in Montreal, and adding Drogba is nothing but a plus.
It is not official, just yet, as the 37-year-old still needs to put pen to paper, but the signing is imminent. Montreal was Drogba’s preferred team this whole time and the club wouldn’t have given the Fire a six-digit figure for his rights if they weren’t sure they were going to sign him. It is only a matter of hours before the signing is official.
A star in Montreal is born. Impact fans can rejoice over Drogba and can look forward to his services as the team makes a push for the playoffs. Drogba was seen for many years in a blue kit sponsored by Adidas when he was playing for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Now, at least for the next 18 months, the Cote D’Ivoire international will once again don a blue Adidas jersey and attract the crowds at Stade Saputo.
