(Fort Lauderdale) Laurent Courtois’ media assignment ends. He leaves the small cubicle where post-match interviews take place, in the annex to the CF Montreal locker room in Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. On the other side of the door, obviously, his team was waiting for him.
He is greeted by shouts and celebrations from his players, who have just won 3-2 after a spectacular match against Inter Miami. While waiting for Fernando Álvarez, visibly busy in the next few moments, we allow ourselves a little glimpse of the noisy scene taking place a few meters from us.
The three scorers of the match, Álvarez, Matías Cóccaro and Sunusi Ibrahim, are named and warmly applauded one after the other. The entire team, including staff and coaches, then pose for a traditional locker room photo, with the players shirtless and not all wearing their shorts. The moment ends with imitations of Cristiano Ronaldo’s favorite celebration, the thunderous “siiiuuu” coming from all sides.
After having himself answered questions from the media on the virtual press conference, Samuel Piette was questioned as he left the adjoining room. What does the atmosphere here right now demonstrate to you?
“It illustrates the vibe, he responds instantly, as if still on adrenaline. This shows that everyone is on board, even the players who were not dressed. »
For him, the esprit de corps that currently surrounds the team demonstrates “all on the same page” training.
“There is no one bigger than the team,” underlines the CFM captain. That’s really what makes a difference. »
He himself puts forward the idea that a player of Josef Martínez’s caliber could have had this “ego”.
“But zero. It ensures that everyone respects each other, that we are successful, that we are all equal. And that when we’re going to have difficult times, no one is going to point fingers. »
We could already hear the emanations of happiness through the wall separating the locker room at the press conference during the speech by Courtois, the first to appear there.
“They are happy because they have just beaten one of the biggest, if not the biggest, clubs in the league,” he noted when questioned by a colleague on the videoconference. The sounds were perceptible as far away as Montreal.
“I know that people will say that this or that guy was absent,” he adds, speaking in particular of Lionel Messi. But I don’t want to take anything away from my team. I want them to appreciate and be rewarded for their efforts. »
” No bullshit » with Courtois
PHOTO SAM NAVARRO, USA TODAY SPORTS VIA REUTERS CON
“His message is very clear, there is no bullshit with him, says Samuel Piette about head coach Laurent Courtois (center, in white). It is very transparent. When you are good and when you are not so good. »
Let’s talk about these “efforts”. Because after three games, on the road moreover, Montreal is still undefeated, obtaining 7 points out of a possible 9.
Laurent Courtois spoke of “mental fatigue” linked to this prolonged stay on the road and the necessary comings and goings with Montreal.
“But at the same time, the benefit is that we are together,” adds the head coach. We’re having a good time. We get to know each other a little more quickly. If we had had three defeats, it would be the same thing. […] We know what we want to do and why we do it. »
Fernando Álvarez confirms this: Courtois has “a very clear idea of how he wants us to play”.
“We’re going step by step,” said the Colombian defender. You can’t do everything in one day. […] We are really happy with him, he manages the group very well. »
Samuel Piette didn’t go out of his way to describe his sixth coach in Montreal since 2017.
“His message is very clear, there is no bullshit with him, he said bluntly. It is very transparent. When you are good and when you are not so good. »
But the Quebecer does not only attribute the merit of the CFM’s success at the start of the season to the team’s driver.
“I won’t lie to you,” he answers a question in English, “the quality of the players, the preparation and the technical know-how [technical savvy] that we have this year, it’s at a different level than last year. And I don’t want to disrespect anyone. I think we had a great preseason, everyone got on board. »
“Far from the desired level”
PHOTO NATHAN RAY SEEBECK, USA TODAY SPORTS VIA REUTERS CON
“We are far from the level we want to reach,” believes Samuel Piette. There’s still a lot of stuff to work on. »
Piette himself recalled that CF Montreal had a disastrous record abroad last season. He had only obtained 2 victories in 17 matches, and 8 small points accumulated out of a possible 51.
“We had to change our mentality. You have to say to yourself: “yes, we are on the road, we will probably suffer a little more”, as we saw [dimanche]. But when we suffer, we make sure to stay strong, compact, work hard and, with the quality we have, punish the opposing team when we have the opportunity. […] This is the biggest difference from last year. »
Of course, the season is still young. And Laurent Courtois does not fail to point out that there will be “empty periods”.
“We are far from the level we want to reach,” says Piette. There’s still a lot of stuff to work on. »
And despite the euphoria of victory, Courtois remained sober in his answers and in his words.
“ [L’important pour] for us, this is what we are building for the future. »