Patrice Bernier had options.
Other teams were interested in him after his contract with the Montreal Impact expired at the end of the 2014 Major League Soccer season. Plus, the Impact were keen on re-signing him.
So there were options for the veteran midfielder who served as Montreal’s captain last season. Retirement, though, wasn’t an option. And that’s why the native of Brossard, Que., inked a new deal last month, committing himself to the Impact for one season, with an option for another.
“For me, there was a never any question of (retiring). Personally, last season was not a great year but retiring never crossed my mind,” Bernier told Sportsnet as the Impact opened pre-season training camp this week.
“There were other possibilities, but first and foremost my hope was to finish (my career) at home. I got that settled and I’m happy that I’m going to play the next two years in Montreal. This is where I want to be.”
Soccer Central podcast: SPORTSNET.CA’s Soccer Central podcast, hosted by John Molinaro and James Sharman, takes an in-depth look at the beautiful game and offers timely and thoughtful analysis on the sport’s biggest issues. To listen and subscribe to the podcast, CLICK HERE.
One of the motivating factors behind Bernier re-upping with Montreal was that he feels the need to make amends for a disastrous 2014 MLS campaign that saw the Impact finish dead last in the standings after qualifying for the playoffs in 2013.
“Last year was a nightmare season for the club,” Bernier admitted. For the players, and everybody that was involved with the Montreal Impact. We want to rectify things and show that last year was a (one off) in the history of the club, that we can turn the page.”
One of the criticisms of the Impact in 2014 was that they lacked quickness, and that they had to become more athletic by bringing in younger players this off-season in order to improve. Bernier, who turns 36 in September, is no spring chicken. But the Canadian international, who played for Canada in a pair of friendlies vs Iceland earlier this month, believes he can still thrive in a physical league such as MLS.
“For me, it’s really a question of mentality and also your work ethic. As you get older you can’t doze off. You don’t have that youthfulness and so you have to be better prepared and also make sure that you kook yourself,” Bernier said.
“I haven’t seen any signs that told me maybe I should quit. I take care of myself, and I just have to adjust. I can keep performing at highest level.”
Aside from winning the Canadian club championship and qualifying for the CONCACAF Champions League, last year was a disaster for Montreal. It’s hardly a surprise, then, that it’s been a busy off-season for Frank Klopas, who has brought in a number of new recruits—most notably defenders Laurent Ciman and Bakary Soumare, and midfielders Nigel Reo-Coker and Marco Donadel.
“Ciman is a guy who went to the World Cup for Belgium. He has a good pedigree, and likes to play out of the back. Defensively, not just because of the back line, we conceded a lot last year. But now we have him and other guys with experience who can lead the back line,” Bernier said.
Overall, Bernier likes the direction the club is headed in.
“We have four or five new players in key positions that are at a good age. They’ll be here for a while, so the club is thinking long-term with these signings, and I don’t think there will be another transition in a few years,” Bernier said.
But Bernier warns that the team needs to add more forwards, especially in light of former top scorer Marco Di Vaio retiring at the end of last season.
“To be honest, we only have one striker. I know the club is looking at bringing in some other forwards. Right now we only really have Jack McInerney and some guys from the academy and draft picks. We do need another player in that position,” Bernier stated.
“Our complete squad has been reinforced from the goalkeeper to midfield. We added some wingers too, so we just really need to add more pieces up front.”
Montreal opens the 2015 MLS regular season on March 7 on the road vs D.C. United. Before that, though, Bernier and his cohorts meet Mexican side Pachuca in the two-legged quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League. The decisive leg will be played in Montreal on March 3, just four days before the Impact begin play in MLS.
“The good thing about this year is that we start with that very important quarterfinal. … A game like that is a big event and Montreal lives on these types of events. It shortens our pre-season but I also think it gives us a leg up on most MLS teams when the season starts because we would have played to competitive games,” Bernier opined.
