Montreal looking to build on performance in first part of season
With eight games done in the 2021 MLS season, CF Montréal was able to take advantage of a little more than a three-week break after beating the Chicago Fire 1-0 on May 29. The team returned to Montreal for just over 10 days before making their way back to Florida to continue training and preparing for the next game, which takes place tonight against D.C. United at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, at 8pm (TVA Sports, 91.9 Sports, TSN 690).
After eight games, Montreal sits in eighth in the Eastern Conference and in the thick of the playoff race, just one point behind its next opponent. Although it may not be the perfect start to the season, it’s clear that the team is excelling at imposing its style of play on opponents under its new head coach.
“I’m very satisfied with what my players have done until now,” said head coach Wilfried Nancy. “Offensively, in anything regarding passes in the final third, attacking the opposing box or passing accuracy, we’re part of the best teams in the league. I’m satisfied because it’s a result of what I’ve seen and the hard work being put in every day. The objective now is to be even better than we were in the first part of the season.”
D.C. United, on its end, is coming off a win against Inter Miami in its return to play last Saturday. The Washington representatives find themselves ranked sixth in the Eastern Conference and are currently riding a two-game win streak, in which they did not concede a goal.
“We’re going to play like we always play, meaning with our style of play,” added Nancy. “However, and I told the players this, be careful with D.C., because this isn’t the same team as before. They try to be more aggressive defensively now and they build play, with a new coach who is trying to put new things in place.”
Injury update
Although the three-week break allowed some injured players to return to form, there are still a few question marks for tonight’s game. With two games in four days, managing the squad will be of utter importance for Montreal’s coaching staff.
“Kamal [Miller] and Romell [Quioto] are back and training with us. We’ll see how it goes for tonight, said Nancy. “Ballou, on his end, is in Montreal receiving treatment there.”
Montreal will be back in action this Saturday to take on Nashville SC at Nissan Stadium at 8:30pm (TVA Sports, 91.9 Sports, TSN 690) for a second time this season, both teams playing to a 2-2 draw the last time around.
