“He’s going to get on the field for sure. » Pre-match interviews very rarely result in this kind of certainty. This one, offered by Mauro Biello about Mathieu Choinière, was an exception to the rule.
This is because Canada’s interim head coach lost the option to employ Stephen Eustáquio in midfield for the match against Japan in Niigata on Friday. The FC Porto player suffered a minor injury during his match last Sunday, and he remained in Portugal to recover.
Thus, Choinière should be rewarded for his great season with CF Montreal with his first minutes on the senior team.
“Mathieu trained well with the group,” Biello said Thursday morning, Montreal time. From his hotel room, after 10 p.m. in Japan, Biello had the tired eyes of a man suffering the repercussions of a hard shift and long days of preparation.
“I’m happy with what I’ve seen from him. You see he has a certain confidence. Now, it’s important that he transmits this confidence on the pitch. »
Eustáquio is an important cog in the Canadian tactical scheme. “Not just for his experience,” Biello emphasizes. He is skilled at covering ground. He is an important player who will be missed. »
The challenge will be great for Choinière. Already because Japan is not easy. Biello expects to see the Quebecer play minutes either at the start or at the end of the match. It is not impossible that a Quebec trio, with Ismaël Koné and Samuel Piette also at the coach’s disposal, takes care of the middle at some point in this match.
But for Biello, the result of this friendly meeting is not the priority.
“I don’t expect the team to be in great shape. We haven’t played, we haven’t been together for four months. […] Now they come here for two days of training, so I can’t expect everything to be at full capacity. I want us to find this tactical cohesion again. That’s important. Let us find our bearings. And at the same time, you have to bring this great ability to fight against a good team. If we put all these things together, I hope to have a good performance. »
Mauro Biello makes no secret of it: as head coach, “now I have my voice. I can speak more than before. »
And the use he makes of Alphonso Davies, his star player, will be decisive. Under John Herdman, Davies had the freedom to do whatever he wanted in the offensive zone. Which stood out from his role as left back for Bayern Munich, a role which made him rise above the masses on the world football stage.
Biello wants to see him excel in this position with Canada too.
“Phonzie responded very well,” says Biello. He is very positive. We know his skills when he receives the ball with space, or one on one. With Phonzie on the left side, it brings a quality, a threat that the opponent must keep an eye on. »
“He’s focused, and it’s exciting,” he says, adding that “there’s a line outside the hotel to try to catch a glimpse of him! “.
