Laurent Courtois said he was very grateful to have been named head coach of CF Montreal and this is what he conveyed to his players on Tuesday.
Courtois led his first real day of training camp with the team, in Arizona, and he had a message to convey to his men.
“His speech focused on being on the same wavelength, having a good group atmosphere and having gratitude,” said Quebecer Samuel Piette. He’s very happy to have been chosen as head coach and I think that’s what he wants to convey to us, to take nothing for granted. He sees it like that for his position. »
The 45-year-old Frenchman seemed to make a good first impression. At least that was the case with Piette and defenseman Joel Waterman, who spoke to reporters after practice.
As physical and endurance exercises gave way to light training, Piette and Waterman spoke a few times about the chemistry Courtois wanted to establish among the players.
CF Montreal used to start its camp at the Olympic Stadium before moving under the hot sun to prepare for its first matches of the season. It is often during these few weeks on the road that the group comes together.
This year, the team is away from home due to preparatory work to replace the stadium’s roof and technical ring, but they may get a head start on developing that chemistry before returning to Montreal.
“You could see there was good energy and everyone was working towards a common goal. The main point this season will be to stay together no matter what happens. Laurent made that clear from the start. These two weeks in Arizona will be good for our group. If we can get closer to each other day by day, it will be good for us this season and it will be easier to get good results,” said Waterman.
Courtois has not yet deployed his style of play to his new players, but the management of the Bleu-blanc-noir had one idea in mind when they hired him: to return to a style of play that resembles what the club had presented under Wilfried Nancy.
Courtois, who successfully led the Columbus Crew reserve team in MLS Next Pro, spoke of heart and energy when introduced to fans. In Montreal, there is a word for that: “grinta”.
Piette knows what it means and he seemed happy to have found this mentality during the team’s first training session.
“Laurent told the players that for him, work and combativeness were non-negotiable. We want to show internally and to the fans that we can play good football, but that we can also be appreciated for the effort we put into it. I think it’s specific to the club and to Quebecers. This is what we want to strive for,” said the CF Montreal captain in 2023.
The group currently has 32 players in camp, including eight Academy members. Waterman, who is one of the oldest players on the team even though he is only 27, is also excited about the idea of resuming his leadership role.
“If young people come and talk to me, I want to be an open book to them. Our team is very young and it is my role to help the young players. We want to develop stars and talent. There is a lot of promise and potential here so if I can help in any way, I will. »
CF Montreal will remain at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson until January 28.