The stakes have been raised at CF Montreal, with the imminent arrival of Chilean star Alexis Sanchez making a playoff push among the Major League Soccer club’s top priorities. Arguably the team’s signing since Didier Drogba over a decade ago Sanchez arrives with a loaded resume that includes Copa America championships, 20 more titles throughout his club career and 461 goal contributions in 956 appearances. “The emotion I was feeling (about the signing) was ‘wow,’” said head coach Philippe Eullaffroy. “I immediately thought about when he was playing at Arsenal and his amazing season in Marseille. … After that you say ‘OK, now I need to manage him. What can he bring to the team and how can we put him in the best condition to show his abilities?’” With Montreal currently sitting in 14th place in the Eastern Conference and seven points back of a playoff spot, the team is in desperate need of the offensive boost Sanchez brings. In the four MLS games since the World Cup break, Montreal has only found the back of the net twice and went 322 minutes without scoring. Due in large part to the departure of Ivan Jaime and the long-term knee injury of Wiki Carmona, Montreal’s noticeable gaps up front have led to just one win in its last nine MLS games. “We’re missing that last bit of finish, and if you look at the numbers, we’ve lost six points because of it. The hope is that this player is the one to help us get those lost points back,” said Eullaffroy. “We’re not far off in every game we play.” Throughout his career, Sanchez has shown versatility that could prove challenging when determining the best area to deploy the new designated player. ullaffroy has indicated that Sanchez will be start the left side of the attack, but said the team’s structure could change once all players have returned from injury. Chile’s all-time goals and caps leader will also prove to be an invaluable asset for the club’s young attackers. Sanchez has played at some of the biggest clubs in Europe - including Arsenal, Manchester United, Barcelona and Inter Milan - and Eullaffroy is excited to see his impact in training. “It’s nothing but joy; we’re excited for him to get here as quickly as possible and be available,” said Eullaffroy. “There are some players that you say, ‘they make others better just by being on the field,’ and he’s one of them.” One of the main focuses whenever a high-profile player arrives in MLS — especially if they are near the end of their career — is how they adapt to the league. The travel distances, pitch surfaces, and culture make for extra off-field challenges to feel at home. Sanchez will be joining Montreal in the back leg of his career, so extra precaution will be taken with his physical integration into both the club and the league. “We’ve all followed his career,” said Brayan Vera, one of the 10 Spanish-speaking players already at the club. “The news obviously went over great (with the player), and now we’re all waiting for Alexis to help him integrate into the group and start helping the team.” Sanchez was expected to arrive in Montreal on Friday before being presented to fans at Stade Saputo before a game Sunday against D.C. United. The game will also be the club’s retro night, sporting a jersey with the Montreal Impact logo for the first time since the rebrand to CF Montreal five years ago. Opinions are still divided on the matter, with some fans having moved on, while supporter groups insist on using and chanting the club’s original name. “It’s good to remember that we’re not like any other club; we have a history and unique stadium where everyone loves to come and play. (This event) is a great reminder of who we are, and it must make us stronger,” said Eullaffroy. “The players are aware that there is a history at this club. … Many who have represented that history are still with the club now.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 14, 2026.
