Ciman gets chance to pay back Montreal Impact for surprise trade to LAFC
MONTREAL — Defender Laurent Ciman is about to get his chance to take revenge on the Montreal Impact.
One of Remi Garde’s first moves when he took over as coach of the Impact was to trade Ciman, who was one of the team’s most popular players. Ciman can prove Garde wrong when his new team — Los Angeles FC — visits Saputo Stadium on Saturday.
The 32-year-old didn’t hide his shock and disappointment at being traded by the club he joined in 2015, partly to experience life in Major League Soccer but moreso because Montreal offered better treatment for his autistic daughter than she was getting in his native Belgium.
But Garde cast a critical eye on the Impact squad that finished well out of the playoffs last season, particularly a defence whose 58 goals allowed ranked among the league’s worst.