The message is clear, even if Wilfried Nancy says it jokingly: “Leave my keepers alone. »
Posted yesterday at 8:28 p.m.
This teasing arrow launched in front of the media Thursday followed several weeks – or rather a full season – of procrastination over the position of doorman at CF Montreal.
Today, the team’s head coach has a good game. His goalkeepers Sebastian Breza and James Pantemis have recovered. Especially the latter, who had been forced to warm up the bench for the team’s first 16 games in all competitions.
“I chose this job,” said Pantemis, Thursday at the Center Nutrilait, on the occasion of a first media availability since the start of this season.
For me, it was all or nothing. You have to work to get what you want in life. It was my mentality.
James Pantemis
Thus, the Montreal jailer chose to see the glass half full. Which allows him today to claim the position of number 1 in front of the Blue and Black cage.
Many would have complained less, taking a step back from the past few months. Especially since its rise in power, it was not won in advance.
The first tenure of Pantemis? A victory in the quarter-finals of the Canadian championship against the Hamilton Forge in May. His second? A defeat without appeal against Toronto FC in the semi-finals, a month later, when he had allowed four goals. And now Sebastian Breza resumed his post. Until July.
“I didn’t necessarily see that it was wasted time for me,” he said. We worked hard with the goalkeeper coaches and with the team’s tactics. I wanted to work on my game on the pitch. And off the field, in the gym. Strength work with physical trainers. I feel good. I feel that I have worked well. And there, I want to have fun and have fun. »
“It’s better for everyone”
After a few weeks of mixed success for Breza, the proverbial dam gave way against Sporting Kansas City on July 9th. The Montrealer had been accumulating errors for several weeks. It was a few weeks after the team’s poor performance against TFC. Wilfried Nancy replied “maybe” when asked if the goalkeeper position was the team’s Achilles heel.
Pantemis then found his net. And played with confidence, inspiring his teammates. Today, the two goalkeepers share the net according to an “alternating” model proposed by Wilfried Nancy. CF Montreal is also undefeated in six games since.
The head coach agreed on Thursday that he was “not big on” the idea. “But relative to the context, for now, that’s the situation,” he added.
“It was not under pressure from the media that I decided to do this competition. It’s because I felt it and because I think it’s best for everyone. »
“It’s only mental”
Earlier this month, Nancy justified her decision by explaining that her “keepers are young”. In addition to talking about the “emotional and physical load” involved when they chain matches.
Where Pantemis and his coach come together is in this desire for intra-team competition.
Nancy begins by recalling Pantemis’ superb save with the foot against Houston last Saturday. A parade that earned him a nomination for the stop of the week by MLS.
“But I don’t forget Sebastian,” he continues. Because in Columbus, he had a big game. If he doesn’t make the saves, we don’t win the game. »
I like to see the two goalkeepers who are able to compete.
Wilfried Nancy, head coach of CF Montreal
“We get along very well together, Seb and I, said Pantemis. We have known each other for years, we work well. So it doesn’t change anything for me. I focus on the task that the coach gives me. »
We ask him about the difficulty of keeping up morale during these long months – a little less than a year – waiting for his turn. Did he even manage to grow, mentally?
“Yes, of course,” he says. Especially since I would say that my position as goalkeeper is one of the most difficult, mentally. It’s only mental. It may be that for 89 minutes, I don’t touch a ball. And at the 90e, I have to make a save to save the team. And it happens in the head. »
“Mentally, I stayed strong, solid. And after many hours of work with the staff, it paid off. »