Two days before his team’s MLS first-round playoff against Montreal, D.C. United Coach Ben Olsen on Tuesday was asked about the Impact’s qualities. He cited team speed, the fabulous playmaker Ignacio Piatti, a seasoned midfield and Belgian World Cup defender Laurent Ciman.
He didn’t mention world-renowned striker Didier Drogba, not out of disrespect but because no one is quite sure whether the former Chelsea superstar will: a) be in uniform b) start or c) ever play for Montreal again.
Before the Impact’s penultimate regular season game, Drogba was so incensed about being left out of the starting lineup, he asked to be taken off the game-day roster against rival Toronto FC.