Impact defender Lefevre has no regrets about making Montreal his home

MONTREAL – Wandrille Lefevre had a choice to make when still a university student — return to his native France with his family or stay on his own in Montreal.

The decision to remain behind could not have turned out better for the now-27-year-old Lefevre, who ended up signing to play pro soccer for the Montreal Impact, getting Canadian citizenship and being called up to play two games so far for Canada’s national team.

“I can’t complain,” Lefevre said Tuesday. “It was not good for me to go back because I wanted to finish my degree and it’s hard to change (universities).

“It was better to stay. It’s really good so far.”

His father, Thierry-Olivier Lefevre, was posted to Montreal by the French building materials giant Lafarge when his son was a teenager. Wandrille Lefevre was playing soccer and studying at the University of Montreal when his father was called back to France.

After four years with the Carabins, Wandrille signed with the Impact when they were still in the NASL in 2011. When they moved into Major League Soccer the following season, he was placed in their academy, but played himself back onto the pro squad for the 2013 season.

“I did another year in the academy, which I think was the best year for me because it was humiliating for me to go back to the academy,” he said. “Playing minutes is still the objective.

“To be important for the club is something I’m really looking for. To be an important piece of your club, in your city, and have many years like that, and still progress, that’s the best thing.”

Lefevre was dressed but didn’t get onto the field in the Impact’s first three games this season.

Usually the first backup in the central defence behind starters Laurent Ciman and Victor Cabrera, he could see his first action Saturday when the Impact (2-1-0) visit the winless Seattle Sounders (0-3-0).

Ciman has been working out on the sidelines after turning an ankle in practice last week. Coach Mauro Biello said a decision is still to be made on whether the Belgian can play. His straight-ahead running looks fine, but there may still be trouble with his side to side movement.

Another potential central defender, Hassoun Camera, is expected to fill in at right back for the injured Ambroise Oyongo for a second game in a row.

Lefevre had some strong games in 11 MLS outings last season and said he’s ready to play if needed.

“My job is to be ready,” he said. “I know I’ll play at some point in the season.

“The main objective is to stay focused. Maybe this week is a little special because we know (Ciman) has a problem. I know he’s working hard to get back on the field, so we’ll see how he feels.”

Biello said Lefevre’s strengths are his intelligence, his ability to read the play and his passing but he still has work to do on staying in sync with the rest of the back four.

But he is improving, thanks partly to having worked with some top-level European defenders with the Impact, first with former AC Milan great Alessandro Nesta and Matteo Ferrari and lately with Ciman, formerly of Standard Liege.

While the Impact practised on a synthetic field at their training centre, star striker Didier Drogba worked out with the conditioning coach on an adjacent grass pitch. Biello said the 38-year-old is trying to get his conditioning and rhythm back to be ready when the team moves onto natural surfaces later in April.

Captain Patrice Bernier, who missed the first three games, is back training with the full squad.