” I do not like losing. » It was a remark thrown out like that, during Josef Martínez’s virtual press briefing on Wednesday morning. A simple fact, stated with conviction and a smirk, without agitation. But for CF Montreal and its new striker, that is perhaps where the key lies.
Let’s remember the fishtail end of the 2023 season in Columbus, where the team seemed to give up in the second half when everything was still to play for. An absence of fervor and emotion which left both the sporting director Olivier Renard and the president Gabriel Gervais speechless, a few days later.
A priori, this is not likely to be an issue for Martínez. On the contrary.
“Maybe that’s my problem sometimes,” he said when asked about the desire to grinta at the CFM. I get too emotional. I do not like losing. […] I hope I don’t lose my cool anytime soon. It’s soccer, and I’m trying to be a better person, so we’ll see. »
Laurent Courtois has not yet had the chance to comment on the acquisition of the Venezuelan. But if we rely on his comments made during his presentation at the beginning of January, we are led to believe that the head coach should find his account with his new attacker.
“We all like an elaborate game,” Courtois said. But there is something on which I am uncompromising: it is the heart, the energy, the fighting spirit, the winning, the niacing, you call it what you want. »
There grintaas it is called in Montreal, Martínez has not lacked during his career.
“I can’t wait to see him race”
Josef Martinez is 30 years old. He is a veteran in MLS. He has won everything, notably with Atlanta United from 2017 to 2022. His seasons of 31 and 27 goals, in 2018 and 2019, are among the best offensive campaigns in the history of the circuit. It was only a press conference of about fifteen minutes, Wednesday morning, but her experience, she feels.
“He is a player on whom the club is banking a lot,” underlines Gabriel Gervais in an extract from an interview carried out and shared by the club in the morning. The CFM paid targeted allocation money to acquire it for one year, an agreement with a one-year option. A gamble that could pay off.
“He is someone who will improve our sporting project,” adds the president. Who comes to help us score goals and achieve our objectives, which are clearly to enter the playoffs and win the Canadian championship. But beyond that, he is a veteran who can help our young people continue to progress. I can’t wait to see him run on the field. »
He is not the only one. Martínez reached stratospheric heights offensively during his American epic. We are still talking about 77 goals in 83 games, from 2017 to 2019. But he suffered a serious knee injury in 2020, and has been bothered by various health concerns since. He won the Leagues Cup with Lionel Messi and Inter Miami last year, but otherwise Martínez no longer appears to be the gunner he once was. Since 2021, he has scored 28 goals in 77 matches. Which remains respectable, without being flashy.
“Since my last operation, two years ago, I no longer have any problems with my knee,” he assures. The last year was difficult, we played a lot of matches, which reduced the recovery time. I’m trying to be healthy and ready for what’s to come. »
“Ready to learn”
Gervais spoke of a sporting project “enhanced” by the arrival of the Venezuelan. How can we quantify it?
Already, Martínez has 161 matches in MLS, 58 in Italian Serie A (with Torino), 55 in Switzerland with Young Boys, and also 66 international matches with Venezuela. To support a young group of attackers at the CFM, it’s difficult to find better. This leadership was greatly lacking last year, particularly in the absence of Romell Quioto, who was injured most of the season.
“We have a young team,” recalled the 2018 Golden Boot on Wednesday. I wanted to come here and help build the culture. And pursue my dreams. I still have energy and I want to continue making history here. »
He himself says he is always “ready to learn”. What he did last year alongside Messi in Miami.
“Every time we went into the locker room, we were so impressed,” he says. This guy won everything, and he still had the desire to conquer. »
In Montreal, Martínez will have the chance to find his bearings again. And he will have to do it while fighting for his position with a certain Matías Coccaro who, at least on the surface, seems to possess a combativeness similar to the one nicknamed “El Rey”, the King.
“I’ve seen some videos, I know he’s a tough player,” alleges Martínez. It’s important in this league. I hope we will be able to adapt well. I will be able to help him, because I have a little more experience in MLS. We are in a group, and we will fight together. »
” Brother ”
The newcomer said earlier that he wanted to avoid losing his cool, despite his propensity for emotion on the pitch. It reminds us of a certain altercation with Montrealer Victor Wanyama in Atlanta, in 2021: the Kenyan had taken him by the throat after a muscular conflict near the CFM net.
Just like Wanyama on Monday, Martínez assured that both players quickly moved on at the time. The video published by CF Montreal on Wednesday candidly proves it.
We can see the new striker come into the club’s lunch room in its hotel in Orlando, shake hands with the staff and players, and warmly greet the Montreal designated player. A friendly discussion ensues.
Gabriel Gervais, in superimposed voice: “You can be enemies on the field with an opponent, but when this opponent joins you, he is your brother. »