It’s an open secret that CF Montreal has been in turmoil for some time now.
Since rumors surrounding Quebec midfielder Mathieu Choinière began to swirl at the beginning of the month, CF Montreal sporting director Olivier Renard notably left the organization.
Additionally, the club is 0-4 in Major League Soccer — having conceded three or more goals on each occasion. This streak culminated with a bitter 5-1 loss suffered in the middle of a “derby” against Toronto FC on Saturday evening, provoking the anger of the club’s supporters.
It was enough for observers to put forward a problem of solidarity in the group to explain the state of affairs.
On Tuesday, head coach Laurent Courtois once again took some of the blame for the club’s recent failures, and added that he must return to the drawing board in order to put the Montreal eleven back on the right path.
“No one cheats, but there’s a way for us to be even more united than that. Doing my job is not enough. We have to be willing to give a little extra, and how I can help the friend. For the moment, in fits and starts, I have the impression that we are just doing our job,” Courtois first explained.
“A little naively, and that’s why I’m learning – we were talking about turbulence -, perhaps through my naivety, but in terms of the offensive and defensive phase of the game, I thought we were already at a stage of ‘be able to come from behind. Now, we are making our mea culpa, we are coming back to things that we thought were acquired, so that our environment becomes more and more constant, and less and less variable,” he added.
The fact remains that Courtois cannot play in place of his players, on the pitch. And that the pillars of the team have their say in getting it out of trouble.
Courtois also mentioned that it is in adversity that we recognize the true leaders of a team, which means that the current shortage will allow him to learn more about his squad – and what wood he is made of. heated.
“Despite all the areas of turbulence that we go through, it allows me to know myself, and it allows me to know the people in this situation. There are those who offer you solutions, and those who only have problems to present to you. So for me, it’s my role to find solutions and identify those who are constructive, compared to those who only have problems,” he said.
It is in this context that CF Montreal will face Forge FC on Wednesday in the return match of its quarter-final series of the Canadian Championship, at Saputo stadium. The two teams drew 1-1 on May 7 at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton.
Courtois refused to specify his starting XI ahead of the duel against the Forge, but suggested it could be “a mix of guys who are fresh and guys who deserve their chance, with some continuity to ensure consistency.” .
And who knows, with a victory, maybe CF Montreal could find some peace of mind.
Choinière, marble
Choinière spoke again with members of the media Tuesday morning.
And as was the case last Wednesday evening after the 3-1 defeat against the Columbus Crew, he did nothing to silence the rumors surrounding his future in the metropolis.
Even if he was asked directly if he had asked the club management to exchange him.
“What I can tell you is that I am here at the moment,” Choinière repeated dryly. I’m getting ready to play matches […]. I’m good. I am focused on my game. I want to help the team, perform, help my teammates, help the staff, help the whole club to perform better. And that’s it,” he said simply.