For several years, CF Montreal has been talking about a playing identity that is dear to it: that of keeping possession of the ball to play entertaining passing soccer.
He achieved this goal under Wilfried Nancy, in his second season, in 2022. In 2023, Hernán Losada’s style of play was cited as the main reason for his dismissal. We were to return to it with Laurent Courtois, in 2024…
… and for now, we are slow to see it consistently. There have been some interesting jolts, certainly. Like these recent ends of matches where Montreal dominates, often because of an absolute need to go get one or two goals to save a result, without always succeeding.
There was the team that started its matches strongly at the beginning of the season, notably with strong pressure on the ball, but which ran out of steam at the end of the match. There was the catastrophic version that completely lacked commitment, in May. We now have the one that has found its intensity again, but is only successful one half out of two.
After 25 games in MLS and 2 in the Canadian Championship, and as the Leagues Cup begins this Friday against Orlando, what is the identity of CF Montreal?
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
CF Montreal head coach Laurent Courtois
“We’re working on identity and internally, we hope to have clear ideas,” Laurent Courtois replied to our question on Thursday morning. “Afterwards, on the field, we haven’t always been able to express it consistently. I think there are reference matches, however, where we were able to show a clear identity. So I don’t necessarily agree with that one.”
His club “could not” execute “consistently” the elements of play on which it “agreed”, Courtois said. CFM also failed to “stay healthy” to repeat good actions and “build up confidence”.
It is true that injuries played a big part, especially during the chaotic spring. Which meant that his starting XI had to be changed almost every game. “It was a challenge, that’s for sure,” Courtois emphasizes, lamenting a “lack of continuity” in “key positions.”
But the fact remains that with nine games remaining in MLS, while everyone is back healthy or almost, Laurent Courtois’ CF Montreal still doesn’t have its starting eleven. Isn’t that a little worrying?
“For me, at least, our identity hasn’t changed that much,” says Ariel Lassiter. “I know that with the staff changes and the changes in training, it can seem a little out of whack (seem a bit off). But the most important thing, I think, is that we are all on the same page in everything we do.”
“We still have time to establish a clear identity,” the left winger submits. “And it’s a good time for us, with this new start. It’s mid-season, but a new competition to make a clean slate, it’s a great opportunity for us.”
“A breath of fresh air”
For a club like Montreal, which has uneven results in MLS, the Leagues Cup actually comes at just the right time. For at least two games, it can recharge its batteries, find team spirit by playing matches with direct stakes, where defeat has real impacts.
It starts this Friday, in Orlando, an opponent that the CFM knows well. And it will continue next Tuesday, at the Saputo stadium, against Atlético de San Luis, a mid-table club in Liga MX.
PHOTO JOHN JONES, USA TODAY SPORTS ARCHIVES
CF Montreal will face Orlando City SC on Friday in the Leagues Cup
If Montreal is eliminated in the group stage – a possibility that could be as early as next Tuesday night – it will have to wait until August 24 to play its next MLS match.
It’s special. In a way, you want to qualify, to continue playing, otherwise you have the month of August which is completely unloaded. It’s not ideal. But at the same time, there is perhaps this opportunity, which we don’t consider, to work physically and prepare other things.
Laurent Courtois, head coach of CF Montreal
If Courtois is ambivalent about the idea of the League Cup, a player like Lassiter seems to be delighted with it.
“It’s a different dynamic,” he said. “If you draw, you go to a shootout. We’re playing teams from Mexico that we rarely see. We’re super excited. It’s a breath of fresh air.”
” We will miss him “
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, ARCHIVES SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Mason Toye was traded to the Portland Timbers this week
Mason Toye had been in Montreal for nearly five years before he was traded to the Portland Timbers this week. According to Lassiter, Toye was “as good a human as he was a player.”
“Everyone here is going to miss him terribly,” his former teammate said. He brought vibes positive on and off the field. We will miss him as a friend.”
Courtois said the American “admitted himself” to having lacked confidence at the start of the season, a situation aggravated by “physical problems”. “There was this opportunity for him and the club to have a new adventure, and maybe that’s what you need to get going again. We wish him good luck, and we thank him for everything he’s done for the club.”