MLS | CF Montreal wants to raise the bar

Some CF Montreal fans already seem to have thrown in the towel, but the players are determined to curry favor with them.

Less than two days after suffering another bitter setback abroad, Hernán Losada’s men resumed training at Center Nutrilait on Monday, under the watchful eye of Olivier Renard, vice-president and chief executive. sporty blue-white-black.

The scene was different from last Thursday at the CF Montreal training ground. The ice had been swapped for the lawn and a good wind was blowing during the exercises. A wind that could represent a metaphor for what is to come for the team. At least, that’s what she probably wants.

Following their 4-0 loss to the New England Revolution, the Montreal troupe entered the eighth week of MLS activities at the 15^e and last in the Eastern Conference in points (3), goals scored (3), goals against (16) and differential (-13).

CF Montreal have lost their five away games this season without scoring a single goal and had to play 11-10 to claim their only win of the campaign, at the Olympic Stadium almost a month ago . At a time when fans seemed to still have hope of seeing their favorites achieve great things.

For midfielder Victor Wanyama, now is the time for him and his teammates to play with pride to get as many points as possible.

The good news for the Montreal players is that they could right the boat at home. They will stay away from the opposing fields for a while, while their next three games, including the one against Vaughan Azzurri in the Canadian Championship, will take place at Saputo Stadium.

“You have to pull yourself together, but it’s not easy when you’ve just played two away games and you’ve just conceded a lot of goals. We have to do well in front of our fans, it’s an obligation. They have confidence in us even if the results are not those currently expected. If we win our home games, we will move up the table. It’s fine to say it, but now we have to act,” said defender Zachary Brault-Guillard.

The CF Montreal color carriers know that the start of the season is often complicated. The weather can impose a lot of travel and does not always offer optimal conditions for training. The team also has to play several matches abroad and the bodies of the players are put to the test.

Beyond the injuries, it is also the changes in routine and the lack of stability that add to the pitfalls of a team that already has enough.

“You always have to leave. When it’s not at the Olympic Stadium, it’s at Cégep Marie-Victorin. Then we train here [au stade Saputo] and we go abroad. We don’t have our fixed ground, our routine,” explained Brault-Guillard.

“You start your preparation in the gymnasium, you stop, you have to spend 20 to 30 minutes on the bus and then you have to resume the warm-up. It’s not easy on the body, with all the injuries we’ve had. »

“I give my all”

CF Montreal has been desperate for offensive creativity and ways to generate offense since the start of the season, and Brault-Guillard’s qualities could give them the spark they need in enemy territory.

Relegated to the role of substitute for Alistair Johnston during the last campaign, Brault-Guillard still managed to score four goals, including the one that confirmed the place in the playoffs for the Bleu-blanc-noir. This season, the 24-year-old defender has only had one start and he has played just 170 minutes.

“It’s not up to me to decide if I deserve another start, but I’m giving my all. I’m trying to get back to my qualities from last year, when I was scoring and making a difference,” said Brault-Guillard, who spoke with assistant coach Eduardo Sebrango after practice.

“I need to try more things. In one-on-one battles, I need to be more confident in my abilities and push a bit more like I used to. »

Besides the long-term injuries, Mason Toye did not participate in practice due to what was described as a knee injury on Saturday. Lassi Lappalainen (left leg) ran alone for a few minutes before leaving the field while Jojea Kwizera (hamstring) trained with a physical trainer.

DC United v. CF Montreal, Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Stade Saputo