Odds Are With Didier Drogba in Montreal Impact Debut

Didier Drogba’s debut couldn’t have come at a better time for the Montreal Impact.

The superstar striker suits up in Impact colours for the first time Saturday when Montreal hosts the Philadelphia Union as a -119 favorite at Stade Saputo.

Montreal heads into the weekend holding onto the final playoff spot in the East with a few games in hand, but needs a boost down the stretch run. The Impact came away with draws against New York and Vancouver and fell 1-0 to Conference leaders DC United in their most recent Major League Soccer action.

Major League Soccer Odds and Betting

This game against Philadelphia is a major opportunity to not only put three points on the board, but also to introduce their new striker. The Union have allowed 43 goals this year, about 1.7 goals per game, so the Impact should be able to create chances against this team. That puts the spotlight directly on their new No. 11 Didier Drogba.

Drogba’s made a career of putting opportunities in the back of the net. He had 164 goals for Chelsea and leads the Ivory Coast in international goals. Drogba lead Chelsea to four Premier League titles and a Champions League title in 2014. Now, at 37 years old, he’s being asked to take the Impact to the playoffs.

“I’m not here to change the way players play or the system, that’s up to the coach,” Drogba told reporters. “I think what I can bring is a mentality. I came here to win. Believe me, if I wasn’t able to do that I wouldn’t be here.”

With Drogba’s arrival, Montreal fans are coming to show their support. Saturday’s home game will be the first sellout at Stade Saputo in about two years.

“It’s important to understand that the club will make the investment if we feel we have the proper player to invest in,” Impact owner Joey Saputo told reporters. “I hope the buzz is there. I hope our fans are happy with the choice we made.”