(Montreal) CF Montreal players will have the opportunity to restore their image outside of Saputo Stadium on Saturday evening as they finish a busy week by taking on Atlanta United FC.

After disappointing home draws against the Chicago Fire and Cincinnati FC, CF Montreal (11-14-4) must now resume its battle for a spot in the MLS playoffs in front of a very hostile crowd at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The draw against FC Cincinnati, leader of the Eastern Association, was particularly difficult, with the Montreal team conceding the equalizing goal seven minutes into stoppage time in the second half.

“It’s important to focus on the next match because we don’t have much time to prepare,” said CF Montreal head coach Hernán Losada. It’s a bit pointless to dwell on the past, especially when you can change it. »

“We have to take the positives from the fact that we were very competitive against the best team in the league and could have won until the last minute, but now we have to focus on the rest of the season. »

A victory against Atlanta United FC (12-8-10) would make up for recent shortcomings at home, but that’s easier said than done. CF Montreal will travel for its third match in just seven days and will need to pick up points against one of the best home teams in MLS, something the club has failed to do since the start of the season.

In fact, the eight points CF Montreal collected away from Saputo Stadium – tied for the second-fewest in the league – were against some of the worst teams in MLS at home.

“We will have to build on our good defensive performances, not just from the back line, but from the whole group. If we can find a way to give ourselves a little maneuverability by scoring, even better,” said captain Samuel Piette.

“As we saw (against FC Cincinnati), you don’t need to have many chances to score a goal. »

With five games on the schedule and just a three-point difference between eighth-placed CF Montreal and 10th-ranked New York City FC, every point we can gain will prove vital on the final day of the regular calendar.

This is all the more important for CF Montreal, which will play three of these games away against the best in the Eastern Association.

“There are still a lot of games left to play and I have a lot of confidence in the group we have,” Piette said.

“Soccer is a very weird sport sometimes, and we’ll have to wait and see what kind of game awaits us in Atlanta. »