(Columbus) Here we are.
The 34th and final game of the MLS season takes place this Saturday evening at 6 p.m.
CF Montreal against the Columbus Crew. Hernán Losada against Wilfried Nancy. Montreal which wants to win to confirm its place in the qualifying match for the series. Columbus who wants to ensure they finish in the top 4 of the Eastern Conference to gain home field advantage.
The Crew could even seek a place in the Champions League by finishing behind Orlando City in third position in the general classification. This is because the Florida team, second, has already obtained its ticket by virtue of its title in the US Open Cup.
“No, it won’t be weird [to face Nancy and Rudy Camacho], said CFM defender Joel Waterman on Thursday. We play against former teammates all the time in this league. But it’s sure to be a little more special this time. »
“I prepare my team to face a style of play,” says Wilfried Nancy, in an interview with La Presse on Thursday. Montreal plays in a different way than Atlanta [the Crew’s last opponent], so I prepare the match compared to Montreal. »
Same story from Evan Bush, former Montreal jailer, who today occupies the position of second guard for Nancy.
“It’s not even a question of beating Montreal this weekend,” he said. There is a lot at stake for us too. »
But Bush “hopes to see Montreal in the playoffs,” he reveals.
“I still know a lot of people there. Players, people from management to whom I speak on a daily basis even today. They put so much effort. I know what they went through, with the transition of the last year. I want them to be successful, but not at our expense! »
Evan Bush puts it nicely: “If Montreal can qualify through the back door, that would be great. »
This is because the qualification scenarios for the Bleu-blanc-noir, in eighth position this Saturday morning, are not limited to victory against the Crew. If he loses or draws, he must hope for results to his advantage from his pursuers. See the capsule below for all the details.
What he undoubtedly gets by winning, however, is a home game next week. Finishing eighth, he welcomes the ninth to the Saputo stadium as part of a knockout match giving access to the two of three in the first round. Yes, this is a new format for 2023, implemented with the arrival of Apple TV.
Hernán Losada confirms that there is “a lot of motivation” among his flock. But how does he plan to achieve this against an Imperial Crew at home?
Two weeks ago, against Portland, Montreal finally unlocked offensively. Losada deployed three attackers up front: Romell Quioto on the left, Sunusi Ibrahim on the right and Kwadwo Opoku in a number 10 role, just a little further down, to distribute the balls to the other two.
The strategy paid off, with a 4-1 victory. But against a Crew that excels in such an open game, in one of the most intense atmospheres in MLS, is it a good idea to repeat it?
“We’re probably not going to change that on Saturday,” Losada said.
“We play with a similar formation” to that of Columbus, Waterman believes. “Our game is open on both lanes. We have to make sure we cover them well, in a better way than them.
“We have a good game plan for this meeting, we just have to execute it well. »
If not broadcast on RDS, this meeting will be available for free on Apple TV. The debate begins at 6 p.m.
Here are the CF Montreal qualifying scenarios: