The start of the CF Montreal season surprised more than one, and Laurent Courtois distinguished the consequences on the field.
Posted at 3:41 p.m.
“I notice that our opponents are cautious when they face us,” he stressed, Friday morning by videoconference from Seattle, where his team will face the Sounders this Saturday evening.
“At the same time, it tells my players, you and me that we must remain humble and perfect in what we want to do. When we have the ball, there are scenarios where we want to take risks, and they try to capitalize on that. »
It worked for the first four matches, from which the CFM obtained two victories, a defeat and a draw. Because despite the collapse in Chicago, Montreal still led 3-1 in the 84th before losing 4-3 against the Fire.
But in their fifth meeting, DC United completely suffocated the Montrealers, who never really found a convincing response. The fact remains that the CFM survived until the 85th minute, conceding a late goal, although logical, to finally lose 1-0.
“I discovered the heart of this team and its general desire to get involved in the cause,” noted Courtois on the lessons learned at the start of the season. Now my job is to find the link, to apply this message on the pitch and to get an appropriate response in difficult moments, like at the end of the last two matches. »
“As much as I can be happy with certain aspects, I am also aware of how fragile it can be. »
In addition, Courtois does not want the perception of his team, both inside and outside, to change depending on a victory or a defeat, the goal allowed or scored at the end of the match.
“There is the context [par opposition à] our true identity, I would say. I’m trying to show my guys how to tell the two apart. »
Chemistry to perfect up front
The distinction is important. Because we cannot ignore the context of the first five matches played on the road if we wish to analyze the playing identity of the Bleu-blanc-noir until now.
The CFM tended to come out of the blocks with great intensity, then transition to absorbing the opposing pressure, inevitable from teams playing at home. When these moments of play arise, “you have to be a little killer,” said sports director Olivier Renard, Tuesday evening, on the sidelines of the launch of the team’s season at MTELUS.
“What we were not,” he believes. In the last match, we weren’t good in general, but we could have scored goals and come back from DC with points, [même pas forcément] deserved. »
During this meeting, the attacking trio composed of Matías Cóccaro, Josef Martínez and Dominic Iankov, although promising, was neutralized and isolated from its midfield.
“For sure we haven’t had a lot of playing time together” so far, Cóccaro recalled of his association with the other two members of the trident, through an interpreter, Friday.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Matías Cóccaro
“The more we play together, the more we will improve and be stronger. »
“DC came well prepared, it’s a team that pressed well,” noted Mathieu Choinière, member of a midfield buried in this meeting. I think we could have done better to release certain balloons [de derrière]. The chemistry is good. We also worked on how to move together. We’re not going to ask too many questions. I think in the matches before that, we had some great actions. You don’t question everything just because of a match. »
Laurent Courtois wants to “continue to work and strengthen” certain aspects of their association, without however confirming that he will use the offensive trident formula again against the Sounders.
“It takes time, it’s not easy with new arrivals and travel. […] But we have seen what they are capable of when they find each other. »
On a personal level, at least, Cóccaro feels the MLS style of play suits him well. We cannot contradict him, with his three goals and an assist in five games.
“In this league, you have to be physical and fast,” he said. And that’s my style of play. I have to be ready to give 110%. »
” Goosebumps “
The Sounders have still not won (0-3-2). If there is perhaps a move to play for the CFM against this team in difficulty, it will probably be driven by a desire to collect points in front of its audience.
“I have enormous respect for the potential of this team and the individuals who make it up,” Courtois said. […] We have been warned. A bit like the last match in DC, we know what to expect. »
It will also be CF Montreal’s last trip before finally returning to its Saputo stadium next weekend. At least he got a taste of the love his supporters have in store for him at the launch on Tuesday.
“Everyone had a little goosebumps,” Choinière commented.
“We felt, we touched, we vibrated a little,” described the head coach. It was quite a powerful experience. I admit that I wasn’t expecting something this intense. At the same time, we talked about it with the guys: we have to support [cet amour] with stocks now. »
Same story for Cóccaro, a player who draws on the energy of his supporters.
“It gives us a big responsibility to [samedi], said the Uruguayan striker, with a smile still on his lips. We have to represent the energy they gave us. »
2024-04-05 19:41:53
#Montréal #identity #fragility
