CF Montreal players will have the opportunity to restore their image outside of Saputo Stadium on Saturday evening as they finish a busy week by taking on Atlanta United FC.
After disappointing draws at home against the Chicago Fire and Cincinnati FC, CF Montreal (11-14-4) must now resume their battle for a spot in the MLS playoffs in front of a very hostile crowd at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The draw against FC Cincinnati, leader of the Eastern Association, was particularly difficult, with the Montreal team conceding the equalizing goal seven minutes into stoppage time in the second half.
“It’s important to focus on the next match because we don’t have much time to prepare,” said CF Montreal head coach Hernan Losada. It’s a bit pointless to dwell on the past, especially when you can change it. »
“We have to take the positives from the fact that we were very competitive against the best team in the league and could have won until the last minute, but now we have to focus on the rest of the season,” he said. he added.
A victory against Atlanta United FC (12-8-10) would make up for recent home shortcomings, but that’s easier said than done. CF Montreal will travel for its third match in just seven days and will have to collect points against one of the best home teams in MLS, something the team has failed to do since the start of the season.
In fact, the eight points CF Montreal collected away from Saputo Stadium — tied for the second-fewest in the league — were against some of the worst teams in MLS at home.
“We will have to rely on our good defensive performances, not just those of the back line, but those of the whole group. If we can find a way to give ourselves a little maneuver by scoring, even better,” said captain Samuel Piette.
” As we have seen [contre le FC Cincinnati], it is not necessary to have many chances to score a goal. »
With five matches on the schedule and only three points difference between CF Montreal, eighth in the East, and New York City FC, ranked 10eevery point that can be gained will prove vital on the final day of the regular schedule.
This is all the more important for CF Montreal, who will play three of these matches away against the best in the Eastern Association.
“There are still a lot of games to play and I have a lot of confidence in the group we have,” Piette said. Soccer is a very weird sport sometimes, and we’ll have to wait and see what kind of game awaits us in Atlanta. »