Against Orlando, the Impact will have to measure its efforts, according to Thierry Henry

However, in the eyes of Thierry Henry, the key to managing heat and humidity well, if they continue to prevail as has been the case since the start of the competition, is possession of the ball.

After negotiating the preliminary phase in Group C against three teams from the northeast of the continent, the Impact will cross swords with a team that spends the seven months or so that a season lasts a few kilometers from where it is played. the MLS raise tournament.

It might just be a combination of circumstances, but in their three Group A preliminary round games, Orlando City SC scored 4 of their 6 goals after the 70th minute of play without allowing a single one.

These late goals led the Florida team to No. 1 in their division with a record of two wins and a draw.

They are at home, they are used to this weather. Now, that doesn’t mean that’s what makes the difference. It’s true that at the start of the season, it can do it because they train here, first noted the Impact head coach during his pre-game availability with journalists.

It’s up to us to find the solutions. If you don’t want to run, you have to keep the ball, he continued. If you don’t lose it, you run a little less. I know it’s a bit cliché, but it’s the truth. We will have to manage the strong times and the weak times. And that’s you with the ball. If you control the tempo of the match and you have [le ballon] a little more often, you run a little less.

It is not clear whether the Impact has started to acclimatize and to take a liking to the heat of Florida, but the fact remains that the team has shown itself in a better light against Toronto FC and DC United, after a first meeting which had left a bitter taste in the mouths of Henry and his players.

We played all our matches in the evening and the conditions are the same for all the teams, remarked Bojan, who nevertheless admitted being happy not to have played a match in the morning during the group stage.

We work every day, physically and mentally to be ready for the games. We have progressed from day one and we feel great, added the former FC Barcelona.

The Bleu-blanc-noir will not have an easy task against one of the teams that has proven to be among the best since the start of the competition.

One of the key players in Florida so far is young American midfielder Chris Mueller, who has scored three of his side’s six goals.

The Portuguese Nani, another midfielder, will be one to watch, not to mention Dom Dwyer, a soccer player forged in the mold of Brad Marchand! Dwyer missed his last game but could be available on Saturday.

Orlando has shown very good things. It’s even one of the teams for me, who looked the best prepared in this tournament. We have seen that very, very quickly they quickly took their marks. Is it because they are a little more used to the climate? I do not knowsaid defenseman Rod Fanni.

We know it’s going to be a tough game. We’re ready, we’re in the know. And when we are in the know, in general we are much less surprised than perhaps the teams which faced them without being specially prepared for this kind of duel.

In videoconference, Mueller said he expected strong opposition from the Impact.

I believe they are called upon to form a very good team. Perhaps the result did not go in the direction hoped for against Toronto. It’s a derby and you never really know what can happen. (The Impact) controlled a good part of the game against DC, I found that he had a good rhythm in his game and (Thierry) Henry did good things with the team. The Impact has good players and it will be a battle.

Felipe Martins suspended

Separately, MLS imposed a one-game suspension and a fine on DC United midfielder Felipe Martins for a serious foul against midfielder Victor Wanyama on Tuesday night.

The incident happened during the 35th minute of play when Felipe clung to Wanyama’s left thigh during a tackle attempt.

Instantly, Wanyama twisted in pain and lay on the pitch for several minutes before getting up and regaining his place on the pitch.

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