CF Montreal | The Rise of George Campbell

In the world of CF Montreal, the notion of “projects” is commonly used to qualify its players. On the other hand, we sometimes forget to remember that said projects can eventually succeed.

At the end of the season, this is the case for George Campbell. The American defender has had a string of good performances since September. A difficult defensive retreat succeeded here. His imposing body blocking a cross there. An offensive pass allowing his teammates to project themselves forward, then.

He even became a vector of confidence on the ramparts for his team.

“His individual marking is top notch at the moment,” said goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois on Friday. This is one of the big factors that makes it so excellent. […] I think he’s in a really good streak. With his marking, he greatly relieves the team. I am very happy that he is performing well with us. »

We understand: Sirois is one of those who benefit the most from the solidity of the defenders in front of him. The ramparts composed of Campbell on the right, Joel Waterman (or Gabriele Corbo) in the center and Fernando Álvarez on the left are now deployed with consistency by Laurent Courtois, which is certainly no stranger to the club’s recent defensive successes.

Before Atlanta United’s goal in stoppage time in the first half on Wednesday, the CFM had managed a period of 283 minutes without allowing a goal, since the net of New England’s 2-0 on the 19th. september.

Well, it’s not exceptional either, we agree. But after the consecutive thaws of 5-0 and 4-1 suffered at the end of August, the improvement is substantial.

“My individual performances come with better collective performances,” Campbell humbly explained Friday. All the players who played in the last matches were much better than in previous weeks. It shows that, in short, it’s a team sport. »

Campbell is not one to strut, and seems to act as a quiet force within the group. But when captain Samuel Piette says your name in a post-match press conference without the question requiring it, it’s because your work is noticed.

“I don’t know how many balls our defensive trio, and especially George Campbell, won on set play sequences this evening,” underlined the number 6 after the 2-1 victory in Atlanta, in a response to about what has changed emotionally since five meetings.

On this subject, the 23-year-old athlete points to Laurent Ciman, who asked him to “emphasize” this by using his “impulse” and his “body”.

“It’s something the team needs,” Campbell said. I take a lot of pride from it. »

A “rare profile”, despite “the waste”

Since we wish to be indebted to our readers, this is a good time to recall that we have been critical of George Campbell in these pages this season. He sometimes seemed slow, trailing the game, hesitant. As in this action which led to a goal at the beginning of June, against the Philadelphia Union.

This is what makes his current rise even more significant.

“He showed how he can be in difficulty on very specific things,” Laurent Courtois nuanced on Friday. And he shows how he has such an interesting profile, so generous, so rare as an American central defender in a defensive trio. »

The coach praises his “mobility” and his “ability to project himself forward”, with “one-touch passes” which allow CF Montreal to “settle into phases of play”.

“But there is also a lot of waste,” adds Courtois.

For his part, Campbell attributes this renewed confidence to the fact that his coaches “gave him tons of chances” to shine this season.

“It gave me the confidence to move forward and look for more options to carry me forward. This is what was the most important in improving my game, and making me play with more confidence. »