In several games at the start of the season, CF Montreal seemed disorganized in attack and defense, but for three games, everything seems to be on their side.
After efforts that were rarely rewarded in the first seven games of the campaign, the Bleu-blanc-noir showed better cohesion on the field and suddenly started winning.
Head coach Hernan Losada’s men were more decisive last week, in a 2-0 win over the Red Bulls. They picked up where they left off on Saturday night, showing opportunism to win by the same scoreline at the expense of Sporting Kansas City.
This streak of two triumphs allowed CF Montreal (3-6-0) to leave the slums of the Eastern Association. However, it was the previous victory against the Vaughan Azzuri in the Canadian Championship, 12 days ago, which was the trigger according to the players.
“A simple victory changes your mentality more than people think. It doesn’t matter that it came against a semi-professional club and in another competition, it helped us in MLS, said defender Joel Waterman. We focused more on the details. To have this feeling of victory, to score in front of our supporters, it’s a habit, a mentality. We set that standard for the rest of the season. »
The best example of this chemistry and the assimilation of the ideas presented in training is undoubtedly the first goal of the match against Sporting, in the 35e minute.
Within seconds, five different players moved the ball into enemy territory and it was finally Bryce Duke who put the finishing touches with a low shot.
When he took charge of the team in December, and following a good training camp, that’s probably what Losada expected of his players. The numerous injuries and the arrival of a dozen new players, however, delayed the process.
“That’s what we said at the start of the season. All of this takes time. We hadn’t all played together and there was a new head coach trying to implement his ideas. It takes time to set up, but you saw it on the first goal. The guys were in the right place at the right time,” Waterman pointed out.
Some players are even starting to feel more and more comfortable in a position that was almost unknown to them.
This is particularly the case for Waterman, who plays on the left side of the central defense after playing on the right in 2022. Acquired a few weeks ago, forward Ariel Lassiter meanwhile obtained a start as a winger on the flank left due to the suspension of Ilias Iliadis.
Against Sporting, Waterman and Lassiter helped each other to limit their opponents with the ball and this situation represents the unity within the group.
“With results comes confidence. The mental aspect is important for players. When you feel good on the field, when the players are fighting alongside you on the worst days, that’s when you create a team. That’s what we’re trying to create, which is a team that’s ready to fight without the ball, but can also create things with the ball,” Losada explained.
It will only remain to be seen if the chemistry and cohesion will take a small step back when a few injuries return to the formation.
The trio of Mathieu Choinière, Sean Rea and Duke circulated the ball well against Sporting, but Matko Miljevic is expected to take on the attacking midfield role when he is fully recovered from his knee injury.
Not to mention the possible return to play of striker Romell Quioto and midfielders Samuel Piette and Lassi Lappalainen.
In the meantime, CF Montreal may have managed to revive its season.
“I’m especially happy for the players because we started the championship badly in MLS. I think now, with a game like this, you gain confidence and that’s what’s important”, mentioned Losada.