Rudy Camacho is lucid heading into Saturday’s duel against the New York Red Bulls. The shutout victory of CF Montreal obtained Tuesday in the Canadian Championship against a semi-professional club is not a guarantee of success for the future.
Aware of the club’s ups and downs since the start of the season, the Bleu-blanc-noir central defender has described his own performances as “unsatisfactory” so far.
“I’m not as good as I should be. Like several players individually, we are not at the level, ”he noted Thursday morning at the Center Nutrilait, before the training session.
The chance to turn the page for Camacho comes just as a new era begins in central defense. After the departure of Kamal Miller, the trio that he also formed with Joel Waterman and with which he made the rain and especially the good weather must get a makeover.
At the base and literally in the center of this central hinge is the Frenchman.
Rudy is an important piece in our game construction. He is a very important player for me. He is a leader. We have often discussed together during the last days. We try to find solutions when we face teams that force us to make mistakes behind.
Hernán Losada, head coach of CF Montreal
Several players could support Camacho during the meeting. Gabriele Corbo has featured in the club’s last three games, Róbert Thorkelsson played all 90 minutes against Vaughan Azzurri on Tuesday and George Campbell featured in his first game of the campaign.
According to CFM head coach Hernán Losada, apart from Campbell who still lacks a bit of rhythm, all the central defenders will be available for the duel between them and New Yorkers.
“We’re going to use the central defenders that we believe will give us the greatest chance of winning. »
The Argentinian pilot made a point of specifying that he would like to develop an eleven type, or at least to have “nine or ten players” who will form a skeleton to favor automatisms. He added that such stability has not been possible so far due to injuries and suspensions.
PHOTO WINSLOW TOWNSON, USA TODAY SPORTS ARCHIVES
CF Montreal head coach Hernán Losada
Tuning the flutes
To develop these automatisms, this chemistry, whether in front or behind, the players need time, underlined Losada.
“The other teams know how the CFM has been playing for two or three years, admitted the Montreal eleven coach. So we tried to motivate our players to play faster. We know that this year it’s not the same attacking players as last year, so we need time to find the automatisms.
“If we want offensive players to have more time to find a solution and to get there, we need faster ball circulation in defence. »
Camacho agreed, saying he had “gotten used to it” under Thierry Henry and Wilfried Nancy, but was aware that Losada wanted him to “play faster”.
The 32-year-old defender went on to assure that the technical waste CFM has suffered this season is not a result of the coach’s vertically focused style of play.
A new breath signed Lassiter
Acquired last Thursday along with Bryce Duke from Inter Miami, Ariel Lassiter said he believed he could help the Montreal club reverse the trend.
PHOTO GRAHAM HUGHES, THE CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
Ariel Lassiter (right)
“Coming from outside, we can add a certain freshness to the team,” he said. Bryce and I had a tough time with Miami last year, but we turned it around. »
His contribution may not have been felt in the 45 minutes against DC United last Saturday, but was decisive in his first start for the club on Tuesday, against Vaughan Azzurri.
After a run into the back of the defence, Lassiter served a caviar to Sunusi Ibrahim, who only had to thread the needle. This insurance goal was precious for the Montrealers, who ultimately triumphed 2-0.
“That’s what I want to do. I want to bring speed, find spaces behind defenders and stretch the defense,” said Lassiter, who said he can play anywhere on the pitch but prefers to be close to the opposition net.
His next challenge will be big as the CFM will face one of the best defenses in the Garber circuit. The Red Bulls have conceded only seven goals in eight games, while the Impact has only three successes in MLS.