‘Anything can happen’ as Impact prepares to finish Champions League series from March

It must seem like Groundhog Day for Impact players.

Following two weeks of quarantine — nothing new or unusual for this group — the players returned to training on Sunday, beginning their preparations for the conclusion of their Champions League quarterfinal against CD Olimpia, Dec. 15 (8 p.m.) in Orlando, Fla.

The Honduran side won the opening leg of the aggregate-goal series, 2-1, back on March 10 at Olympic Stadium. Three days later, the pro sports world was shuttered due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“When you’re in the middle of the season and have a lot of games and training, sometimes you kind of get tired of football,” midfielder Samuel Piette said Monday during a video conference call. “When you have a two-week break, you kind of miss it. I think everyone’s happy to be back.

“It’s (a potential) three games and we can achieve something very big. We’re excited for that.”

The Impact has been idle since Nov. 20, when its Major League Soccer season ended with a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to New England in the Eastern Conference play-in round.

Olimpia, conversely, is in the midst of its Liga Nacional season and defeated Real España 1-0 on Sunday. Olimpia is undefeated in 13 games (9-0-4) and is in first place in Group A. It has scored 27 goals while surrendering only eight.

“It’s 90 minutes and anything can happen,” Piette said. “We have a good chance of winning and we’re confident.”

The Impact’s roster already has drastically changed in the last two weeks. On Nov. 27 it announced several players would have their contracts terminated as of Dec. 31, while others wouldn’t have their options exercised, including Bojan, who might return under a new deal.

Bojan and Jorge Corrales won’t participate in Champions League play, but Anthony Jackson-Hamel and Orji Okwonkwo — both not expected to return — are on the Impact’s list of 25 players, submitted Monday, and have agreed to participate. Rod Fanni, whose contract was terminated, and Emanuel Maciel, who is under contract, have also been included on that list of 25, but won’t make the trip. Maciel’s injured while Fanni, according to the team, has been absent from training.

“To win that thing, with three games in one week, come back home and spend the holidays with a trophy and title, that would be very big,” Piette said. “That’s the motivation right now.”