After securing their place in the playoffs last week, CF Montreal could confirm their second place in the MLS Eastern Conference standings on Saturday night.
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Wilfried Nancy’s team will visit the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough and this encounter is another milestone in this surprising team’s tremendous season.
“Our first goal was to qualify for the playoffs and the second is to finish as high as possible,” Joaquin Torres said Thursday.
“If we can confirm this second place at the end of the week, that’s what we will try to do,” added the small Argentinian midfielder.
The Bleu-blanc-noir have 56 points with three games to play, and the New York Red Bulls, who are third, have 50.
The Bulls visit their Bronx rival, New York City FC (46 points) who are close behind. They also have three games left to play.
With a win, CF Montreal would secure second place, which would mean they could play a minimum of two playoff games at home, provided they win in the first round, of course.
But a tie paired with a loss or a draw by the Red Bulls would also be enough, as would a loss combined with a failure by the Bulls, who feel the breath of New York City on their necks.
A little respite
This is the last duel of a rather grueling streak for Nancy’s troupe, who will take advantage of a few days off when they return to Montreal. Due to the international break, the club will not play until October 1.
But that’s not a variable the head coach is going to take into account when deciding on his starting XI.
“It’s not the break that will decide the team that I will put. The “Revs” have a style of their own. I will use the players who, I think, will be able to help us to have a performance against this.
“I made the changes against [le Fire de] Chicago because it was time to do it. It’s going to be our sixth game in 21 days, so I’m going to see what team I’m going to put on.”
Contribution of all
This is another great illustration of how everyone has contributed to CF Montreal’s success since the start of the season. Nancy recalled that this was not a new concept for her men.
“Last year was the same. I don’t like to talk about myself too much, but I’m one of the coaches who rotate the most.
“Sometimes I change players because I need to see something else even if we won the match. There is a tactical aspect or player profiles that bring me something very specific. It’s collective, each player is important, whether for five or 90 minutes. They put their ego aside and they know why we do it.
Torres confirmed that everyone is buying into this concept in the locker room.
“Each player feels he has a compromise with the group, no matter what role he has to play, whether he plays a lot or plays little.”
“The best tool for a coach is competition,” said Nancy. When there is none, the player thinks he will make less effort. Me, I like to have players in competition and they level up.
The Revolution has changed a lot
It’s one to midnight for the New England Revolution, who with 38 points are three points behind the Columbus Crew and the last available playoff spot.
The “Revs” are 10th in the East while the Crew are seventh. But the Ohio team still has four games to play against three for the New England team, which could almost close the books on its season in the event of a loss this Saturday.
It’s an understatement to say that this campaign has been difficult for the Massachusetts team, unable to find their rhythm.
Barely a year ago, this team set a new MLS record with 73 points, which earned them the Supporters’ Shield, a trophy awarded to the regular season champion team.
not good enough
The “Revs” have lost four of their last six duels (1-4-1). Their coach, Bruce Arena, said they didn’t deserve a playoff spot.
Wilfried Nancy said he understood his counterpart’s comments, which were as much about the truth as the motivational technique.
“If he said it, he meant it. I saw the matches and, indeed, they could have done better, I understand the coach’s reaction.
“Usually when a coach says that, the next game they [les joueurs] will come strong. We already suspected it because we had a good game against them at home.
Revenge
The “Revs” visited CF Montreal at Stade Saputo last month and it didn’t go well for them, as they were beaten 4-0. will host this Saturday.
Nancy plans to face desperate athletes.
“They still have their chance to play their cards for the playoffs, so we’re expecting a tough game and we’re going to be ready for that.
“For sure the players will run a lot more, will do a lot more. We will try to score a goal to see how they will react.