Dismissal of Laurent Ciman | “I didn’t expect it at all”

For Laurent Ciman, “the pill is hard to swallow”. The former CF Montreal assistant coach, fired to his greatest “surprise” last Thursday, spoke to The PressMonday morning.

“I don’t want to go down on anyone,” he said straight away after answering our call. I thought my work was recognized. I think my job was done, and done well. Afterwards, we all do things that we need to improve on. I’m not saying I was perfect. But I thought I would be respected. »

The news that Ciman was being dropped, along with three other members of Laurent Courtois’ coaching staff, came out Thursday, in the wake of a major restructuring of the sports component at the CFM.

The Belgian, former general of the Montreal defense and assistant to the head coach of the CFM since 2021, himself learned of his dismissal that day. “I didn’t expect it at all,” he said. It was a surprise. »

He met Courtois – currently in France – and Gabriel Gervais, by videoconference, around noon. The president spoke to the media at 2 p.m. The first question asked to him, by the author of these lines, concerned the dismissal of Ciman.

Gervais responded that he did not want to “go into the details” of the “confidential discussions” he had with his former employee. But later, in response to another question, elements of an answer emerged.

“We cannot allow 64 goals in a season and hope to have success,” said Gervais, who also spoke of his desire to “change the mentality” during the sessions at the Nutrilait Center.

The president deplored a certain lack of aggression in training, where players accepted without much fuss to have goals scored. “It is the staff who must, day after day, put in place the small details for us to be successful,” underlined Gervais.

On the phone with The PressCiman repeats that he does not want to “target anyone”, but he still wants to respond to these arrows launched by the president.

“We conceded 64 goals, and that’s certainly not normal,” says the former defender. I agree with him. First of all, I’m not on the ground. Secondly, I’m not the coach, so I’m not the one who decides what exercises we do during the week to prepare for the weekend. And three, he needs to stop watching hockey. »

On this, Ciman refers to hockey coaches who specialize in one aspect or another of the game, such as special teams or goaltending.

“I’m not an assistant defense coach. I am an assistant global coach. […] Yes, we have more defined roles. But you can ask any striker or midfielder, like Sunusi Ibrahim, Bryce Duke or Nathan Saliba: I work with everyone. I don’t just work with the defense. It’s easy to say that. »

“I gave everything”

In preseason of the 2024 campaign, when The Press made the trip to Orlando, the two Laurents seemed to get along like thieves. Here we are in November of that year, and Courtois was part of the decision-making process leading to Ciman’s firing.

Has the relationship changed? “Yes, it was different,” replies the former Impact number 23. But not because of me. »

“The best person to talk about it is him,” adds Lolo. I haven’t changed my mind. People who know me know that I only speak one word, and what I say, I say it to my face. »

Close observers of CF Montreal matches may have noticed that Ciman no longer traveled with the team during matches abroad. This information was noted in our pages last week, when we tried to better understand why the deputy had been fired.

“It was in my contract,” he recalls. We knew very well why I no longer made the trips. It’s easy today to blame me for it. »

Ciman stayed in town to take care of his autistic daughter Nina, one of the main reasons why he attempted the Montreal adventure in MLS from 2015.

Nina is now 14 years old. “When she has seizures, when my wife is all alone, physically, it becomes complicated. »

The agreement he had with the CFM was “exceptional”, agrees Ciman. “I have always been grateful to the club for letting me manage my family. During matches, I texted the coach or assistants when necessary, to tell them what I saw on TV.

“I am not trying to justify myself, I am just trying to clarify things,” underlines our interlocutor, who will discuss ten minutes with The Press at the end of the line.

“My son is sad”

It has now been twice that Ciman’s journey has ended in a fishtail with Montreal. Remember that this well-known figure to the Quebec public was exchanged against his will to LAFC, in December 2017, upon the arrival of Rémi Garde.

“That’s what hurts. Especially when you know why I came to Quebec and Canada. »

He assures that the family is “very well”. “My children are at school. We follow the short route. But I’m not going to lie to you, my son is sad. He liked the CF. He doesn’t really understand why his dad is no longer there. »

Achille has just turned 11. His birthday was… last Thursday.

Ciman assures that he “needs to work”, and that he will “make phone calls here and there”, since he has “projects in mind” and “still things to give in soccer “.

In Quebec? “You never know,” he says, leaving the door open to a departure for other skies.

But from CF Montreal, Ciman wants to “leave with his head held high”, he concludes.

“With the qualities that are mine, and the work that I have done. The rest, I close the book. »