MONTREAL—After a pulsating 2–2 draw between the Montreal Impact and Toronto FC at Stade Saputo on Sunday, Didier Drogba’s absence garnered far more interest than did the hosts qualifying for their third MLS playoffs in five years.
After an extended delay prior to his post-match press conference, Impact head coach Mauro Biello began by explaining why he dropped the former Chelsea FC legend. Simply put, Drogba wouldn’t accept the fact that he wasn’t starting against archrival TFC.
“I had to protect my team,” Biello said. “I have 28 other players to think about. I want to avoid distractions for my players.”
After the game, Drogba tweeted his congratulations to the Impact. It remains to be seen what role he will play after the club looks into the situation.
TFC head coach Greg Vanney said he was surprised not to see Drogba in the lineup.
It had been raining all day, but it absolutely poured just prior to the match as if to signify the chaos that might be going on in the Impact locker room. However, as the game started, the rain stopped and the Impact came out and played a terrific first half of football.
Drogba going AWOL was, in fact, not a distraction to the team, although as the game wore on, the Impact could have used his help in protecting a 2–1 lead. The team was not able to maintain its superiority over TFC who clawed back twice.
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In Biello’s analysis, the team is better with Matteo Mancosu up top as he is more active than the 38-year-old Drogba and puts opposing backlines under pressure. The Italian Mancosu also helps the team transition quickly.
Biello called Drogba “an excellent tool” to have coming off the bench.
This year, Montreal clearly has a worse record when Drogba plays, either starting or subbing in. When Drogba is not in the lineup, the Impact have a 6–2–3 (W–L–T) record and when he plays, the record slumps to 5–8–9.
