CF Montreal | Laurent Courtois, the only captain on board?

CF Montreal, at the end of June, is seriously lacking leadership. Both in its sports management and on the field, with the team’s pillars on international assignment. In this vacuum, Laurent Courtois stands out, somewhat in spite of himself.

Since the departure of Olivier Renard – and his assistant Vassili Cremanzidis – no person in a position of authority, other than the head coach, has spoken at the CFM. There is no doubt that Gabriel Gervais, as interim president and sporting director, is working hard behind the scenes to find Renard’s successor and prepare for the transfer market which is fast approaching.

But despite media inquiries, for over a month now, only Courtois has been braving the storm. Which leaves everyone in an uncomfortable fog about the direction of this club.

It’s a lot to ask of the coach. Maybe too much, even. But at least when we talk to him, like Friday morning at the Nutrilait Center, he answers the journalists’ many questions with a welcome frankness, accompanied by a reserve that we understand.

On his team’s disappointing performance (1 win in 12 MLS games), which he himself explained by highlighting “instructions not followed” after the 4-1 defeat against the Colorado Rapids last Saturday: “It’s frustrating. We spent a first half of the season where we gave ourselves the benefit of the doubt, or permission to be naive, to make mistakes, to experiment. And now, we’re at a point in the season, especially with slightly more experienced players, where that’s it, you no longer have any excuses. Me first.”

Can we, therefore, come to the conclusion that there is a divide between the message he sends to his players and their desire to put it into practice?

” Me no [je ne vois pas de fracture]. Afterwards, I let others make their own interpretations. I would say that there is a lack of individual and collective responsibility. »

Courtois regrets the “inconsistency” of his group, which “is not safe” from itself “at times”. In this sense, he would like to “regain certainties of performance”.

We are halfway through the season. Will this inconsistency be resolved in 2024, or in the long term?

“We can always fix the present,” he said. We try to be 1% closer to what we want, whether on the ground, in the message, in the culture. We also know that it starts now, every day, as soon as you set foot at the Nutrilait Center. And there are things that don’t happen the next day, so it will take weeks, months. »

“We are studying our options”

Matías Cóccaro had a tantrum after a sequence of play in training on Wednesday. Since then, Courtois has assured that the Uruguayan “recognized” his mistake and “apologized to the group”. “We’re moving forward,” he said.

“Mati, he has the qualities that we know. He also has a lot, a lot of effort to make so that we can be sure that he is someone we can count on daily.”

The mustachioed man trained away from the group on Friday, which casts doubt on his participation in the match against the Philadelphia Union this Saturday at Saputo stadium.

Cóccaro and Josef Martínez, since their return from injuries in mid-June, have both been cleared. “We know their capabilities,” Courtois said. “For the moment, they have not been able, either through their fitness or in a match situation, to show themselves.”

These two attackers were the big catches of what could be considered, at that time, as an excellent winter transfer window. The summer one will open on July 18. And CF Montreal, a club in dire need of reinforcements if there ever was one, cannot afford to remain still.

“We sat down with management and staff,” says Courtois. We discussed a few points, about the present and the medium term. Yes, we are studying our options. We always try to prioritize the players and the squad we have […]but it is also obvious that we are working [pour améliorer l’équipe]. »

“And me, on a personal level, in my progression, I want to take part in these discussions. It’s interesting. And it allows me to learn about other aspects of the job that I didn’t know about.”

“Maybe he was sulking.”

Speaking of the transfer window, it is starting to be obvious that Victor Wanyama no longer has his place in this club. The CFM’s only designated player – and therefore the highest paid player, by far, on the team – has only amassed 269 minutes in MLS in 2024.

And this player, who has demonstrated this important leadership during his stay of almost five years in Montreal, seemed to refuse the captain’s armband from Nathan Saliba when he came into play against the Red Bulls, nine days ago.

Courtois admits he “forgot” to bring it up with the Kenyan, adding that he has a “very clear and transparent relationship” with the veteran midfielder.

“I tell myself that perhaps he didn’t dare, since I hadn’t specified it. Or maybe he was sulking. »

Maybe he was sulking?

“I have so much respect for Victor,” replies Courtois, after noting his great career and his professionalism. But I can’t ask him to be satisfied with the fact that I don’t give him enough playing time. He thinks he deserves more, and I hope that every player who doesn’t get his playing time thinks he deserves more. »

To our simple observer’s eyes, Wanyama has not seemed to be able to keep up the pace in the MLS matches he has taken part in recently. This probably explains it.

“It’s the coach’s choice [si Wanyama ne joue pas plus]explains Courtois. […] The part he doesn’t control, it’s not his fault, it’s the coach’s.”