On the album OKComputerafter the depressing interlude Fitter HappierRadiohead goes extravagant Electioneering. The heartbreaking notes emanating from Johnny Greenwood’s Telecaster transport you to a completely different state of mind. A lively nod of the head is assured. CF Montreal will hope that its return from the international break reflects this classic sequence from alternative rock.
Posted at 5:19 p.m.
Because he only has two games left before the MLS playoffs. Including his last at home, Saturday night against DC United. The club has already announced a full house for this meeting. He has every advantage in taking advantage of this to give himself a final boost.
Even if for Wilfried Nancy, it is still too early to think about the post-season.
“It’s still too far,” he said Thursday morning at the Center Nutrilait. We have two games to play. They are important because you have to keep climbing the mountain. »
Nancy often has a hoarse voice after games, a sign of overuse of her vocal cords for the previous 90 minutes. They appeared healthy on Thursday. Did he actually have time to rest during the break?
“I have work at home at the moment, so it’s a bit complicated, he says, amused, but not too much. I couldn’t play golf, so it’s complicated too…”
But he took advantage of this period to take stock of the last two years of his team. And the road travelled.
There were difficult moments last year, certain things that we should have managed better, he explains. And thanks to those moments, we were able to be better this year.
Wilfried Nancy, head coach of CF Montreal
However, because of his “competitive side”, he “regrets” the result of certain matches in 2022. Like this defeat against Philadelphia at the Olympic Stadium, at the start of the calendar. Because today, with two games remaining, the CFM is only five points from the top of the league. The Supporter’s Shield, awarded to the first in the general classification after 34 games, is one of the two major trophies of MLS.
“We were leading 2-0, but Djordje’s goal was disallowed, recalls Nancy about the match on March 5. And then we conceded 2 goals in 3 minutes. For a 2-1 loss.
The Union now has 64 points. Montreal, 59. These three minutes of bewilderment at the start of the season now prevent the CFM from hoping with conviction for a real three-way race for the Shield. He would need two Philly losses — which Rocky’s home team is not used to — and two Montreal wins.
“I will stop at nothing (I will stop at nothing)”, sings Thom Yorke on Electioneering. Is CF Montreal a fan of Radiohead?
The worst team in the league
Wayne Rooney’s faltering DC United comes to town. DCU have won just the first game since the England manager’s return in July. Otherwise, it’s 10 games without a win in August and September.
But “we must take any opponent seriously”, warns Zachary Brault-Guillard, who also speaks of “rigor” to be applied on the ground.
Nancy evokes an “interesting” reconstruction at the DCU.
“You will see the way they play, with their goalkeeper playing very, very high. […] They have [Christian] Benteke, a very interesting player who does them good. They are preparing for next year. »
It will be a difficult game, like all MLS games.
Wilfried Nancy, head coach of CF Montreal
Nevertheless. They are the worst team in the league, without a shadow of a doubt. We tried to see if the coach sees in this match an imperative of victory. To confirm momentum. To improve the record at home before hosting an opponent in the playoffs. To satisfy the 19,619 supporters present.
“I never talk about winning a match,” he says, which goes hand in hand with his philosophy displayed all season.
“I’m not one of the coaches who say ‘come on, we have to strip ourselves, we have to go in all directions, we have to fight’. No. The players know it. […] If it is to say that, my job is useless. »
Lassi Lappalainen will be back in top form for this meeting, he who has been absent since the end of August. Djordje Mihailovic will however be suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards.