Luis Binks’ MLS Monteal Impact adventure for 2020 is almost over but there’s just one more hurdle facing Thierry Henry’s side before Christmas – the second leg of a Champions League Quarter Final…

While Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City all learned their Champions League opponents on Monday, Luis and the rest of the Impact squad were preparing for a trip to Central America to complete last season’s CONCACF Champions League last eight tie against Honduras’ Club Deportivo Olimpia.

The Hondurans won the first leg in Canada in March by a 2-1 score line. “It was one of my first games for Montreal,” Luis told us, “and from what I can remember was that they only had two chances all game and took advantage of that! We probably should’ve had a penalty at the end of the game when the ref gave it and then four minutes later decided to go against his decision for some reason.”

“I’ve never played in Honduras and I was looking forward to playing there in the atmosphere they would’ve created and how hostile it would’ve been. One of the players here in Montreal – Romeo Quioto – is from Honduras and used to play for Olimpia so he knows a lot about them and their squad.”

Impact’s “domestic” MLS season ended with a heart-breaking late Play Off defeat to the New England Revolution – a side that seemed to have the “Indian sign” over the Canadians during the season.

“That was another tough game and they’re a very good side like we saw within the season and even in the Play Offs. It was horrible to lose in the manner that we did, and I said it on the night it’s the worst possible way to lose in my opinion that late on after all the hard work during the rest of the season and game.”

New England then reached the Conference Final before losing to Columbus – a fact that didn’t surprise Luis. “It didn’t really as I knew the quality they had and especially their attacking options. They probably have one of the best attacks in the league, so they were always going to create chances and score goals to get them to the final!”

“Now we’re preparing for the Olimpia game. It’s been a long time since we lost to New England, nearly a month in fact and during that time we had to quarantine for 2 weeks having arrived back in Montreal after being based in New York City where we finished our home League campaign. So, you could say that it hasn’t been the preparation we would’ve ideally liked but it is what it is, and we have to get on with it.”

After his trip to Honduras this week, Luis heads home for the festive season before heading to join his new club Bologna in Italy, before being loaned back to the Impact for the new MLS season which starts in March.

Luis told us, “Really looking forward to it – I have a great chance to go on and play in Serie A if I do well here and especially at Bologna there is a pathway and like now you see the manager there isn’t afraid to play youth. The way the MLS season and European season matches up isn’t ideal but if I can get a few more games and experience under my belt next year there is no reason as to why I can’t play in Serie A in the near future.”

We would like to thank Luis for his co-operation with all the articles that he’s helped us with during his first season in the MLS and we wish him well in Serie A in January – to follow his incredible journey, keep with KSN…