The sun is still only rising at the dawn of this 2024 MLS season, but CF Montreal is undoubtedly already one of its brightest lights. On the other hand, Sunday’s victory under the lights in Miami has the potential to fade the surprise effect among his next opponents, according to Laurent Courtois.
In this case, the Chicago Fire, this Saturday afternoon.
“This is surely our toughest match that awaits us,” said the CFM pilot on Thursday morning. It’s so early [dans la campagne], but we are aware that now, we will perhaps surprise less. »
Obviously, the excellent performance of the Bleu-blanc-noir, who collected 7 points out of a possible 9 in 3 road games, did not go unnoticed by the Fire. Frank Klopas, the head coach in Chicago, said he “reminded” his players that they must “underestimate any opponent in this league”, speaking of Montreal.
“It’s a good team, which has had a good start to the season,” he told the Windy City media on Thursday. They will arrive with us with a lot of confidence. »
The Fire started its season against Philadelphia, Cincinnati and Columbus, “really good teams,” says Courtois. Chicago only drew one match, against the Union, then suffered two defeats. Despite the warning given to his men, the clash against the Montreal eleven represents for Klopas an opportunity to put his team back on the right path.
PHOTO TREVOR RUSZKOWSKI, USA TODAY SPORTS ARCHIVES
Chicago Fire head coach Frank Klopas
“I’m not saying that to demean Montreal. But when the schedule comes out, and you see that you have Montreal at home, you tell yourself that this is a match from which you can get a result. »
Klopas adds, however, that “it’s harder to win games when everyone expects you to win them.”
In the current context, this opinion probably applies to both formations.
“We are aware that there is a very good team in front of us,” underlined Courtois. They are keen to prove themselves in front of their audience. It’s going to be the toughest match, that’s for sure. »
After going through Inter Miami and its stars, even without Messi, this statement seems surprising. But we understand that for Montrealers, the challenge for the next three matches abroad is perhaps more psychological than anything else.
His players, in any case, seem pumped up.
“We’re going there with the same mentality we’ve had until now,” Ariel Lassiter said Wednesday. We have a job to do. We believe we can win every match we play. »
PHOTO PHELAN M. EBENHACK, ARCHIVES ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ariel Lassiter
“This year, we wanted to tackle this six-game trip by really collecting points,” Joel Waterman underlined Thursday, making the comparison with the CFM’s sad record abroad in 2023. […] That doesn’t change for the next three games, whether in Chicago, DC or Seattle. We keep the same mentality, the same tactics, the same philosophy. »
“The mark of champion teams”
This philosophy notably involves including the entire group in the project, not just a handful of players who get the majority of starts.
On Sunday, defender Fernando Álvarez, starting for the first time in 2024, scored the 1-0 goal. Sunusi Ibrahim, who replaced Matías Cóccaro in the 76thescored the insurance goal in the 78the, on a pass from another substitute, Josef Martínez. Raheem Edwards, Victor Wanyama and Dominic Iankov all played important roles as they took the field in the second half to keep Montreal within three points.
This depth is saving and “makes the difference”, believes Joel Waterman. But it also constitutes “the mark of champion teams”.
PHOTO PHELAN M. EBENHACK, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Joel Waterman
“Everyone deserves to go on the field,” he said. It gives us confidence, the players who play the majority of the minutes, to see them train every day, making sure they execute the basics the right way. »
Here, credit must be given to Laurent Courtois, for whom “it has always been a priority to involve as many people as possible, as often as possible”.
“It’s not a question of how much I play, it’s what I’m going to do with the minutes that I’m going to be given,” he explains. […] I haven’t yet been able to give some people the opportunities I would like to, but I just want them to be ready when it’s their turn. Afterwards, it’s up to the staff and me to unite them so that they feel that it’s true. »
It is still early. CF Montreal is not immune to future clouds or storms. But this esprit de corps, when the storm thunders, can serve as an essential umbrella.