Although the team allowed 4 goals against Cincinnati, head coach Wilfried Nancy is not too gray-haired compared to his team’s defensive performance. The reason is quite simple: the priority remains the desire to score a goal more than his opponent.
Saturday’s 5-4 doesn’t bother me, because the goals we took were individual mistakes, he explained in videoconference on Tuesday. Opportunities to score, we have had in the past without having been able to score many goals. There, we managed to do it. I want my team to attack.
On Saturday, the attack came a lot through the left foot of Joaquin Torres, who was making his first start in MLS. Author of a remarkable match, he was electrifying in midfield, in addition to being effective in recovering the ball. A performance that did not go unnoticed by his teammates, Zorhan Bassong said.
He is a small guy, small and very lively, pictured the coach. He’s got a lot of energy and Saturday’s game was perfect for him. It was a departure he had been waiting for a long time. He works hard in training. He is a super motivated guy who was looking forward to this moment and he seized the opportunity with flying colors. The team is very happy for him, he has demonstrated that he has extraordinary qualities.
Joaquin Torres scored his first goal for CF Montreal on his first start with the team.
Photo : Getty Images / Minas Panagiotakis
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Bassong, who started in central defense on Saturday against Cincinnati, also recognizes that individual errors have come close to costing CF Montreal dearly. Support from the crowd, limited to 5,000 spectators, played a major role in Saturday’s comeback. But not enough to see a particular issue for the duel against New York City FC on Wednesday, in a Red Bull Arena which is not the home of either of the two teams.
The game we played on Saturday, without the crowd to cheer us on, it’s a completely different game, admitted Bassong. It gave us the adrenaline rush that allowed us to come back to score. But we were able to demonstrate in Florida, when we played without supporters, that we managed to perform well without the atmosphere of our supporters.
More focus, so many goals
For Nancy, Wednesday’s goal is to build on Saturday’s performance, abandoning the individual mistakes that allowed FC Cincinnati to score four times, but also showing the same efficiency in front of goal.
I assume the players know what they need to improve, said Nancy. When we look at the defensive aspect, we were not endangered by their play, but we were endangered by our mistakes. We need to improve on the decision-making with the ball, but for now I’m happy with the defensive aspect of our team.
Wilfried Nancy has led CF Montreal to a 6-4-3 record so far this season.
Photo : Associated Press / Mark Humphrey
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While several players will once again be unavailable on Wednesday, some for injuries (Clément Diop), others due to their participation in the Gold Cup (Samuel Piette, Kamal Miller, Romell Quioto), Wilfried Nancy likes the depth of his workforce and the desire that drives its players.
The example of Joaquin Torres, who knew how to remain patient to bide his time and find a way to help the team, is the one to follow. Because only Djordje Mihailovic and Rudy Camacho have played the 13 games of the season so far.
I can’t wait for our players to come back, but it’s rare that everyone is physically well at the same time
, Nancy said. It’s part of the job and I’m glad I have this problem when it arises. The season is long, I have several options on the bench compared to the opposition we face.
For now, Nancy has still not decided which will be the 11 players who will form her starting lineup against New York City FC, ranked 7th in the Eastern Conference, 3 rows behind CF Montreal.
Head coach expects close game against opponent who likes to play ball
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:by defending a little higher. “,” text “:” It will be a difficult match for us, but for them too, because we know that we can have a good match there, praised Nancy. I would like us to attack Wednesday’s game the way we started playing in the 30th minute on Saturday: defending a little higher. “}}”>It will be a difficult match for us, but for them too, because we know that we can have a good match there, praised Nancy. I would like us to attack Wednesday’s game as we started playing in the 30th minute on Saturday: defending a little higher.
After playing a first game at Stade Saputo, CF Montreal will play its next three away games: at Red Bull Arena on Wednesday against New York City FC, at Gillette Stadium against the New England Revolution next Sunday, then at Drive Pink Stadium against Inter Miami on July 31.
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