MONTREAL – Impact fans will have to turn up at Stade Saputo to see if one of their new players makes his debut on Wednesday night.
The club has confirmed that new Designated Player Didier Drogba will not play, but will be introduced to the crowd at halftime of Wednesday’s game against the New York Red Bulls (8 pm ET, MLS LIVE). However, their other new signing, Costa Rican international Johan Venegas, could make his first appearance for the club – if, and only if, MLS receives his International Transfer Certificate in due time.
The ITC, Montreal head coach Frank Klopas said on Tuesday, is the only missing piece for Venegas to enter the fray.
“Once that’s cleared, he’s ready,” Klopas told reporters on Tuesday. “Physically, he’s ready. He’s been playing in the Gold Cup. He took, maybe, four or five days [off]. But his fitness level is very good. He trained with us [Monday]. He’s sharp.”
Venegas met the Montreal media on Monday morning, after taking some post-training direct free kicks. He relishes the challenge with his new team, which he grew to respect over the two-legged CONCACAF Champions League semifinal tie between his old club, Costa Rica’s Alajuelense, and the Impact.
“Those were nice games against a great Impact team,” Venegas said. “I like the team, the quickness of play, the good players. I spoke with my wife about coming here, and I’m glad we’re here now.”
Klopas could use Venegas at the earliest opportunity. With Drogba still unavailable, and with Jack McInerney gone after Tuesday’s trade to Columbus, Montreal is down a proven option up top.
Mainly known as a winger, Venegas could provide some help at forward, too.
“He’s played there with Alajuelense,” Klopas said. “With him coming in, he’s another guy that we can play wide, we can play up top. He can play at No. 9. He’s played there before. It’s another situation where we would get ourselves with a lot of guys that you have to manage, not always happy when they don’t get to play. There’s depth there with him coming in.”
Added Venegas: “I try to go forward. I’m an intelligent player who tries to make the best possible decision for the team. I’m fast, and I try to be close to goal.”
Technical director Adam Braz was thrilled to add Venegas to the team on Monday, welcoming a “quality offensive player” with “characteristics that fit in well with our style and our team.”
“I feel [the signing] creates great competition for places,” Braz said. “If you watched training today and recently, you see that the intensity, the quality, the application from the players are at a really, really high level. I think everyone is trying to earn their spot, and that’s exactly what we wanted when we started the year out, building the squad: to have a healthy competition for places.”
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