Ignacio Piatti is the one player who makes the Montreal Impact tick.
With 17 goals and six assists, the Argentine playmaker enjoyed an MVP-calibre regular season in 2016, and he was easily one of the most influential players in Major League Soccer. He hasn’t let up in the playoffs (three goals and one assist in three matches), playing a major role in the Impact reaching the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in franchise history.
So, Piatti is the man in Montreal. There’s no question about that. But spare a thought for his countryman Hernan Bernardello who, despite not being as flashy as Piatti, has been a key figure in the Impact’s impressive playoff run that included the Quebec club knocking off the top-seeded New York Red Bulls in the previous round. If recent performances are any indication, Bernardello will feature prominently when the Impact take on Toronto FC in the Eastern Conference finals, with the first leg scheduled for next Tuesday in Montreal.
Think of Bernardello as the Montreal Impact’s version of Michael Bradley. The Argentine is a quiet midfield assassin; his subtle and nuanced game is similar to Bradley’s in that it often goes unnoticed. He protects the defence and breaks up the opponent’s attack, while also serving as one of the midfield links between his back line and forwards.
Bernardello was one of the unsung heroes in the two-game series against the Red Bulls, who boast two of the league’s three MVP finalists in Bradley Wright-Phillips (who led MLS with 24 goals) and Sacha Kljestan (who recorded a league-leading 20 assists).
The Argentine effectively linked up with teammates Marco Donadel and Patrice Bernier to routinely crowd around Kljestan whenever he had the ball, forcing him into areas of the field where he couldn’t easily deliver a killer pass to Wright-Phillips. At other times, while New York circulated the ball in the middle, Bernardello and his midfield cohorts stood their ground by holding their shape, forcing the Red Bulls’ attacking players out wide where it’s less dangerous.
Having begun his second tenure with the Impact in late July, Bernardello took some time to readjust to life in MLS. But as the season wore on, the Argentine firmly re-established himself as an important cog in Montreal’s starting 11.
“We’re very happy with his contributions to the team in terms of what he brought in the midfield—being able to close down, win balls, win duels, and having that ability to start attacks,” Impact coach Mauro Biello said.
“The more he got comfortable, the more he’s been able to play as a starter within the group, and the better he’s become. We saw a very good performance in New York in what he could bring, just in [his] ability to close down certain key players, and at the same time having that intelligence to keep the ball and allow his teammates to breathe in possession.”
Bernardello, 30, appeared in 18 regular season matches for the Impact between 2013 and 2014.
Former general manager Nick De Santis noticed Bernardello while watching a game between Colon and River Plate during a 10-day scouting trip in early 2013. Although he went to Argentina looking for attacking players, De Santis was immediately impressed by Bernardello, calling him an outstanding two-way player with excellent positioning. Bernardello was out of contract a few months later, and the Impact immediately swooped when notified about the defensive midfielder’s availability.
Originally signed as Montreal’s second Designated Player, he left MLS in 2014 after failing to come to terms on a new deal with the Impact. Bernardello played for Mexico’s Cruz Azul in 2014-15, before moving back to boyhood club Newell’s Old Boys in Rosario. From there, he went to Spain where he helped Alaves secure promotion to La Liga, and he eventually made his way back to Montreal this summer.
Players from abroad, especially South Americans, often have a tough time adapting to MLS. The league is very different than what they are used to, there’s far more travel involved, and there is a host of cultural and language barriers to overcome. Maybe that’s why the Argentine didn’t exactly impress in his first stint in Montreal, but Bernier believes his previous MLS experience helped him acclimate this time around.
“I think we saw the true Bernardello this season compared to when he came in 2013 where [he had to adjust] and he had injuries at that time. It was hard for him to get into his stride, while this year he’s played well and now we see him at the end of the season being a very important element in the middle in terms of breaking up plays and to be able to start attacks,” Bernier offered.
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