Ismaël Koné had just missed a game that Wilfried Nancy was gasping to explain. The head coach of CF Montreal then decides to put a brake on the exercise to correct the young nugget of the club.
Posted at 3:49 p.m.
The training took place on the lawn of the Saputo stadium on Friday. An enclosure far from the noisy container transport of the Port of Montreal and the busy rue Notre-Dame, both surrounding the Center Nutrilait. The media was therefore able to hear quite clearly what was being said between the two men. And it’s not as if Nancy, several meters from Koné, was whispering either.
He asks the Quebecer not to lower his head. Then gives the example himself of what he asks of the players involved. A very precise passing game that allows the ball to be sent quickly from the middle to the front.
Koné and his teammates then run. And everything works. To the cheers of Wilfried Nancy. The latter then walks over to his mid-20s to talk to him quietly. A discussion of about two minutes. Training resumes with joy. Attackers celebrate their goals, goalkeepers their saves.
Wilfried Nancy was named a finalist for MLS Coach of the Year on Thursday. For his players, he deserves to be the winner. But not only because the team achieved unparalleled success in 2022.
“For me, he is the one who must win it,” said Samuel Piette on Friday.
Everyone appreciates him as a person even before as a coach. […] He is someone who is very, very good at dealing with people first.
Samuel Piette on Wilfried Nancy
Kamal Miller agrees. But he also praises his “honesty”.
“That’s all the players want,” said the Canadian international defender. An honest coach who will play fair with them and be consistent in his decisions. »
“Pride” without “inflaming”
Nancy himself spoke of “pride” and “humility” after practice.
“I know where I come from,” says the man who has worked in Quebec soccer since his arrival with the Citadins de l’UQAM in 2005.
“Whether I win or not, the most important thing is that we recognize the work. Because there is work, sacrifice behind. But there is also a lot of fun. »
Jim Curtin, of an Eastern champion Philadelphia Union, and Steve Cherundolo, who won the Supporter’s Shield with LAFC, are the other two finalists. Does Nancy believe in her chances of leaving with the trophy?
“Of course,” he says.
“It is abnormal what is happening. I have been in charge for two years. There you go, now I’m in the three [meilleurs]. »
If the notion of “pleasure” is important for the head coach of the CFM, his position has taught him all the same to be “comfortable in an uncomfortable situation”.
He mentions having to be sometimes “cutting” and “cold” with the players.
“It’s not easy, because the player wants to do well. He wants to play every day. […] Sometimes I have to be behind them, other times I have to be tough and demanding of them. »
Wilfried Nancy, however, does not want to “ignite” with this appointment.
“Perhaps in three years, I will coach Chicoutimi! “, he jokes.
A member of the media asks the question that crosses our minds at this moment: is this a good argument to negotiate a new contract?
“First, there are the first games, he resolves to say. We will see later for the rest. »
The Quioto case
Romell Quioto took part in most drills during training. The Honduran has suffered a thigh injury since returning from the international break and did not play last Sunday.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Romell Quioto
His presence remains doubtful for Sunday’s playoff game against Orlando. A situation that annoys the coaching staff of the Bleu-et-noir.
“There are two possibilities,” explains Nancy. Are we taking a big risk, which I will assume, during the game against Orlando? Or finally, we feel [samedi] that it’s a little too fair, he won’t participate and we’ll try to win for him? »
The technician has accustomed us this season to a certain nonchalance when it comes to discussing absentees. Anyone can enter and do well in the CF Montreal game system, he would surely have said in normal times.
But we feel that the issue of Sunday, and the importance of Quioto in attack, bothers him.
“It’s a game that is still special. And Romell, his injury is a little weird. It may not be something very serious, but you have to be careful. »
“Like I said to Romell: I won’t take Romell if he can’t help us. »