The next one will arrive as early as Saturday, when CF Montreal travel to Charlotte to take on the home side, known for their sold-out games, fiery fans and thoughtful style of play.
Charlotte is currently ranked 8th in the East, but has a home record of four wins and one loss.
It’s a good team, mentioned Nancy. My players are aware that we will be playing against a different style of play. We are going to play on turf. We’ll be on the move and it’s been a long time since we left too. It won’t be an easy game, like all MLS games, and against a coach who plays his team. It’s an interesting team to see because in the ideas, in the nuances of the game, there is reflection, so I’m not surprised that the coach and Charlotte have good results.
Nancy, meanwhile, is taking advantage of the momentum of his club to work in detail with his proteges.
We want to be even more specific. There’s a lot of things they did right [durant les derniers matchs], but which could still be improved. As they are in a good mood, they are good. We can even more [pousser]. That’s the idea
he explained.
It is important for him to maintain a close relationship with the players, to react according to events and the state of mind of the team.
When you lose, as a coach, with the staff, we try to find the right levers to use. When we win, it’s easier for me to be even more precise about certain things. When you lose, the players know that they lost, that they didn’t do certain things well. I have to qualify my words while being demanding, but being close to them
he added.
He also repeated the importance for him to live in the present moment and not to ignite. In Montreal since 2017, Samuel Piette is also aware that the tide can turn quickly in MLS.
There is this confidence that is present, but there is also this humility that is super important. We are in a good moment, but we know very well that it can change very quickly. The team trained very well this week. […] You have to keep both feet on the ground. We don’t have that playoff spot confirmed yet. It’s still very, very early in the season
advanced the midfielder.
The next ten days will be very busy for the Montreal club. On the schedule: three games, including two away. The team will return to Montreal immediately after Saturday’s game in Charlotte and will have to hit the road again on Tuesday to be ready to face Nashville on Wednesday night. On Sunday, it will host Real de Salt Lake at Saputo Stadium.
Obviously, it will be a big physical challenge. It will take a lot of recovery work. […] In the last games, we showed the depth we have, shown that no matter who we put on the field, he is capable of doing the job. It takes the pressure off if we ever have players who have physical problems
he said.
Before starting this busy part of the program, the players took advantage of a day at the spa to strengthen the bonds of the group. The team atmosphere is a key element for Nancy. He listens to the emotions of the players and is open to discussion.
This is what we notice in the words of the young Ismaël Koné, who played his first matches in the starting line-up this season and participated in the success of the Canadian national team during the qualification for the 2022 World Cup.
Me and coach Wilfried, we get on well. We often talk about what he expects of me. I have to push my limits. I have to work even more. At the beginning, it rose quickly with the national team, with my goal. [NDLR : Kone a marqué son premier but en MLS en mars dernier.] But we must continue. It always takes more, always more to reach the highest level. That’s what he asks me
he said.
The message I give to my players is “have fun, be good at training, be good defensively, offensively”. The result is the consequence of what we do on the ground. It’s a phrase I often say, but it’s the reality. We must continue to stay in the present moment
said Nancy.
Reference-ici.radio-canada.ca