MONTREAL – For anyone who has even followed the history of the Montreal Impact in MLS, the idea of witnessing a victory for the team in Atlanta, in any context, already had something extraordinary. The one that materialized before our eyes on Wednesday was downright surreal.
Not that the opponent opposite was particularly unattainable, on the contrary. Atlanta United FC is no longer the powerhouse it once was. For a rare time since its advent in MLS, its roster is devoid of real stars. His form at the moment was rather mediocre. His defeat against the Montreal visitors also gave a serious boost to his hopes of playing in the playoffs this fall.
Keeping in mind its historical setbacks in Georgia, it is by thinking back to its very recent past that the latest result on the CF Montreal list is astounding.
This team, undefeated in five games, which prevailed calmly in an environment where it had always seemed the victim of bad luck and which now has a foot in the playoffs, appeared barely a month ago in total perdition.
Laurent Courtois has been trying hard to say for weeks that nothing in the content and transmission of the message has changed. But in the execution, the attitude and above all the results, it is clear that there was night and now there is day.
Samuel Piette admitted this bluntly after the game against Atlanta when TSN colleague Jon Still asked him this simple question: what has changed?
“I think we have rediscovered the pleasure of playing together, of playing for each other,” suggested the veteran. Before, everyone individually tried to do their best while focusing on their own performance. Today, we look and feel more like a team. »
Exposed to the words of his captain, Courtois was more diplomatic. “It’s easy, it’s human. We all tend to, when things go bad, things go very badly. When things are going well, they are going very well. I qualify that a little by saying that the guys continued to work very well in training. […] But it’s true that at the moment it seems more fluid, that’s for sure. »
“Sometimes it’s just hard to explain,” admitted defenseman George Campbell. Last year, the media had the same questions, asking us why our season was like a roller coaster. At times, even we don’t understand it. Regarding [ce qui se passe depuis un mois]I think we just got tired of losing. »
“It’s normal in a season to have ups and downs,” put goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois into perspective. This season is the first year with a new coach, we are learning a new system. I think at the start of the year, we were a little more conservative to start the year on the road and try to collect points, which worked very well. Afterwards it was about finding our “X” throughout the year. »
“Adapting to the system, to the coach’s requests, sometimes it varies,” continued Sirois, relevant as usual. It’s also about finding personal consistency for each player in our performances. I think that was the hardest part this year. We had too much inconsistency individually, which made it difficult to have a certain chemistry on the field collectively. Right now that’s exactly it. Each player does what he has to do, which means that collectively, we are very strong together. »
The predator has become the prey
For weeks, CF Montreal tried to stand out from the crowd in a fight that seemed lost in advance for a place in the playoffs. His victory on Wednesday, combined with the defeats of his most serious competitors, reversed the roles.
Now holding eighth place in the East, with the added bonus of a three-point cushion separating it from its closest pursuer, the Bleu-Blanc-Noir can breathe a little. However, he would be mistaken to think he was safe and to relax his guard.
“The most important thing is not to fall into complacency,” agrees Sirois. We can’t get too comfortable because we know that everything can change with just one match. I would like us to approach the next match by saying that we can aim for seventh place [dans l’Est]ensure that it is attainable on the last day of the season. It is also possible to ensure our qualification for the series tomorrow. This is the mentality we have to have because we know that there are teams right behind us who are just waiting for us to screw up. »
Campbell agreed with his goalkeeper: “We cannot fall into overconfidence or arrogance. At the same time, we have to keep in mind that we are a good team and that we can be competitive against any opponent. Our approach must be exactly the same as in the last matches. »
“I don’t know if being where we are makes much of a difference, other than the urgency of forcing things. We are less in this emergency, recognizes Courtois. But if we don’t include the basic ingredients, we’re going to be in trouble. »
