Luis Binks’ adventure in the MLS is to continue – and not just beyond the League Play Offs that start this week…

It’s been announced that his move to Serie A side Bologna will go ahead at the culmination of Montreal Impact’s COCACF Champions League campaign next month, but the Italians have agreed to loan the Gillingham youngster back to Montreal for season 2020/2021 – news that has thrilled Luis who told us, “I’m coming back on loan so all that’s happened is that the two clubs (Montreal and Bologna) along with me have agreed to loan me back next season.”

“I think this is good for me as it allows me to continue to get game time if I work hard and continue to learn against top opposition.”

Impact went into Sunday’s last game of the regular season against DC United needing a win in Washington to earn a Play Off place after a poor recent run of odd goal defeats as Luis explained. “It got really frustrated as we could’ve and should’ve clinched the play offs a lot earlier than we did but like you say the odd goal went against us.”

“For me as a defender it’s so annoying as you pride yourself on clean sheets and this season we haven’t got as many as I’d of liked so yeah like you say it got very frustrating.”

Since the League restarted, the Impact’s “home” games have been played in New York. “To play your home games in another stadium is never easy as the surrounding are different and people may think it won’t make a difference as there is no fans in either stadium but it does,” Luis explained. “Playing at home still gives you an advantage I think even if there are no fans, maybe that’s just me but that’s what I believe so playing at “home” in NYC wasn’t easy.”

Impact boss Thierry Henry left Luis out of the starting line-up from the big game. “We knew we had to win going into the game as no matter what happened elsewhere, we knew a win was enough for us to make the play offs,” Luis told us. “Being on the bench was disappointing as I’m someone that wants to play every game, but the manager decided to go for something else and I just had to be ready for when I was called upon.”

When he did come on the Impact were 1-2 behind but levelled through a thumping header from former Spurs man Victor Wanyama. “Victor is someone who is so powerful and when you see him make the run to go and meet the ball you just knew that no one was going to stop him,” Luis said gleefully.

He continued, “When he got the equaliser we still didn’t know whether that was enough for us to make the play offs so the goal from Romell (Quioto) was a great relief as we then knew no matter what was happening elsewhere, we just had to win to make it in.”

“After the game, the manager left it pretty short and just said how we dug deep showed good desire to get the win as the goal from DC after eight mins could’ve knocked us back but like I said we showed great desire and commitment to get back into the game.”

In this country at least sides who just make post season seem to be able to carry good form into the Play Offs – a point that Luis agreed with. “Like any game your only as good as your last so to get the win can really help our confidence to go on and do well in the play offs and I genuinely believe we can go far but we have to show the right attitude and commitment like we showed in our wins this season as the games won’t be easy especially because it’s a one legged tie and we’re away.”

The Impact fact the trip to Foxboro to face New England Revolution… again! “Yeah ha-ha it’s the 5th time we’ll play them this year so we know plenty about them and they know plenty about us but like I said before that doesn’t matter as it’s a one off game and it’s just about winning and getting over the line and into the next round.”

We couldn’t let Luis go without asking him about the week’s “biggest” match Stateside this week – Bidon v Trump – and he admitted. “It was good watching it in New York. I’m not a politics man or know anything about it but when you’re surrounded by it, it can become quite good to follow. I watched the last debate, and I didn’t really know what they were going on about, but I was so into it ha-ha!”