Can CF Montreal repeat last year’s scenario?
In 2022, the Montreal team started the campaign with two losses and a draw in its first three meetings abroad. The rest is part of the story; the team ultimately broke the record for most road wins in circuit history…
This season, Hernan Losada’s squad lost their first three games abroad. Unlike last year, however, they won their first home game, just before the two-week break which ends on Saturday. The team will travel to western Canada to face the Vancouver Whitecaps, who are winless this season and sit 11th in the Western Conference.
“All the teams are difficult to face, nevertheless recalled the head coach of the CFM. All matches are difficult. […] It’s more than five hours of flight, there is a three-hour time difference. »
As we said, this break in matches came after the only victory of the CFM. If the players would have liked to take advantage of the momentum acquired against Philadelphia and replay quickly, according to Ilias Iliadis, the two weeks were still beneficial for the alignment, allowing the cripples to recover their health. Losada is the first happy to finally enjoy a slightly larger roster.
“It feels good because you can also see that in training there is more competition. The level is starting to rise and I’m happy with that. »
Asked if he believed he was approaching a definitive, more stable starting XI, the Argentinian replied that each of his players would step onto the pitch one day or another.
“It depends on so many factors. I think that’s one of the strengths of this team. They will all play, have minutes. It’s up to them to be ready when they get the chance. »
Aaron Herrera featured in CFM’s first three games, but injury sidelined him on March 18. He therefore watched his team’s only victory from the top of the stands.
“It was awesome,” he said Wednesday. I wasn’t surprised, but it was cool to see how many fans showed up, even though we were playing here at Olympic Stadium. I arrived a little late because of the traffic, I didn’t know what to expect from that side. I missed the first goal. »
The 25-year-old defender could not 100% confirm that he would play on Saturday, but said the team were “managing it as much as possible with training during the week to make sure” he was ready .
Herrera, who has played for Salt Lake City for the past five seasons, has faced the Whitecaps many times in his career.
“It’s not an easy place to play,” he said. It’s an interesting vibe, to say the least. They’re a pretty good team at home. We have to arrive ready to play, it will be a good game again. »
“It’s a long process. A few times there have been problems with the paperwork. Documents got lost in the mail and all that,” he explained.
“When the United States stopped calling, I thought it was time to make the change. It’s a country I’m excited to play for. Their fans are extremely passionate about soccer. »
Hernan Losada said Romell Quioto will be back in Montreal on Wednesday, but didn’t know if he would fly to Vancouver with the team. “He played yesterday [for Honduras], last week too, so a lot of games and minutes for Romell, plus the trip. But we hope he will be with us in Vancouver. »
