“Hey Dad, you’re fourth today. »
Posted at 4:25 p.m.
Updated at 4:35 p.m.
This is how Wilfried Nancy knew what his CF Montreal’s ranking was after Saturday’s victory against Atlanta.
It’s because the Bleu-et-noir head coach makes it his mission not to look at the hierarchy table of the MLS. At least not before August or September.
“What I know is how many wins we have, and the way we play,” he explained to the media gathered at Stade Saputo for his team’s practice on Thursday. For me, that’s the most important thing. Because as you know, if we want to make the playoffs, we need about 13 or 14 wins. In my opinion, that is the objective. »
The CFM already has 4 in 9 games, a quarter of the season, and has a harvest of 14 points. He hosts Orlando City SC on Saturday, which leads him by three units and by one position in the standings.
The challenge for the Montrealers: break the team record by remaining undefeated for seven consecutive games.
And on top of that, Nancy doesn’t do avoidance.
“It is sure that the players know it, he concedes. […] If the players can do it, they will not deprive themselves of it. »
“It may be an extra motivation, he adds. It’s always fun to write a page in the history of the club. They will think about it. You have to find a middle ground, but it wouldn’t be bad. »
Same story for Samuel Piette, who is not only aiming for a draw to get there.
“Of course we can break this record with a draw, slips the Quebec midfielder. This was the case when we could equalize the last game. But what we had in mind was to win. Especially against a direct rival. »
“Against Orlando, even if we break the record, I won’t hide from you that we’re going for the three points. »
On this subject, Nancy will have to deal with two major absences in midfield. Designated player Victor Wanyama and young Ismaël Koné, indisputable starters since the start of the season, will be suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
“These are quite heavy losses,” believes Joaquín Torres, brilliantly served by Kamal Miller on the winning goal against Atlanta last Saturday. “These are two guys who bring a lot to the group. On the other hand, we have a lot more than a starting eleven. We have a complete, deep group. »
Quebecers as reinforcements?
Samuel Piette is one of them. The midfielder will be in his third game since returning from injury. Is he ready to start for the first time this season?
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Samuel Piette
“Yes, I feel good and ready to go for Saturday’s game,” he said. How many minutes do I have in my body? I do not know. I think I have at least a good sixty. »
He could play more if the need is there, for the benefit of “emotions and adrenaline”.
If Piette admits that it was difficult for him to experience his absence from the club when it was going through difficult times at the start of the season, he considers “to come back in a good time”.
“The atmosphere is good, everyone is happy. It’s nice to come back and add my qualities to the group. To close the game as we saw against Philadelphia. Against Atlanta, to bring this intensity to the midfield which was perhaps a little lacking, and to get the score. »
His technician does not want to go too far on his use on Saturday.
“He came back well last week,” said Wilfried Nancy. It did him good, especially mentally. »
Another who could finally see playing time is Mathieu Choinière. He played his last minutes at Olympic Stadium against Philadelphia on March 5 and suffered a foot injury. In particular because of the stadium’s synthetic surface.
“He is close to a return,” said Nancy.
Choinière played with the reserve team last week “and that allowed him to play an entire match”.
“He is eligible” for Saturday’s meeting, “so we’ll see,” said the head coach.
But beyond all that, what emerges from this visit to Stade Saputo on this sunny Thursday is the good “vibe “, says Piette, who currently reigns within the group.
Alistair Johnston interrupts the start of Samuel Piette’s press briefing to improvise as a journalist and ask him questions about his boots.
The good mood emanates from the field like these balls that spin above the playing surface.
Joaquín Torres presents himself to the media with his stockings in his sandals, and affirms through an interpreter that he is “very happy with the arrival of good weather”.
“It feels good to see the sun,” he says with a smile. The winter was long, I couldn’t take it anymore. »
Quite a change from Djordje Mihailovic’s post-game comments after the 3-3 draw with Atlanta in March. “We all, myself included, have to take a few days off and not think about this sport,” he sighed. […] We need to take a few days to let our minds wander a bit. »
What a streak of good results can do to boost morale.