Samuel Piette spoke of a need for “clarity” in the style of play. Olivier Renard found the lack of identity “worrying”, “not normal”. Joel Waterman would like everyone to be “on the same page” tactically.
If Hernán Losada is back next year as head coach of CF Montreal, he has his work cut out for him… and accountability.
First: will he be back? Hernán Losada’s contract is still valid for another season in Montreal.
We asked the main interested party the question on Tuesday during CF Montreal’s end-of-season review. A long, two-hour press conference at the Nutrilait Center, during which all its (numerous) participants essentially laid their cards on the table.
He repeatedly said he wanted to “analyze the whole season” with members of senior management.
“Depending on what comes out of this, how we feel, we’ll see. »
And how does senior management feel, three days after the heartbreaking elimination of Bleu-blanc-noir?
“He is absolutely right to not be sure [of his future], says Olivier Renard straight away. Like me, I’m not sure. »
“I know you guys are anxious for the fans to know if someone has a severed head or not. The only thing I can tell you is that Hernán has a guaranteed contract. But that doesn’t mean he’ll be here next year. That doesn’t mean he’s going to leave. »
Before Losada and Renard, six CF Montreal players paraded in front of the media. They pretty much all talked about the difference between performance at home and away, in particular.
“You have to have the same mentality at home as abroad,” said Waterman, who agrees that “the effort could have been better” in certain matches away from Saputo stadium.
A few of them mentioned some confusion in what was being asked tactically. And, above all, the numerous changes to the starting lineup during the season.
Captain Samuel Piette was the most eloquent on this subject, as he was after a tough defeat in Atlanta last month.
On the club’s lack of identity on the pitch: “It’s a bit unfortunate to be asking these questions, in all honesty. […] The question is legitimate. As much for the staff as for us, the players. Instead of turning our backs on the staff, why not sit down and say: ‘You, the staff, what do you have in mind? How do you want us to play? And we can tell you how we would like to play.” »
According to Olivier Renard, “it’s a bit of a shame to say that now, it should be talked about during the season.”
“Me, as a sports manager, we must listen, listen to our players, listen to the staff. I want to see and understand why we did not reach the level we wanted, and especially this irregularity which is not normal. »
“No”, Olivier Renard is also not satisfied with the game deployed by his team.
He does not put all the blame on his coach: he speaks of a “stormy context” following the departure of Wilfried Nancy, of players returning from the World Cup who had “other ambitions”. From the Coupe des Ligues onwards, he said, “it looked more like what we wanted to do”.
Despite everything, most remember that this is Hernán Losada’s first year. That even in Wilfried Nancy’s first year, the club missed the playoffs in the very last game of the season.
“I am 100% sure, based on this year’s results, that we will be better next year,” Losada believes.
Piette mentions that 2023 has been one of transition, with strategies that may not have “stuck” with players.
But a change of coach would also mean “starting from scratch” for him.
“There are things we need to work on. […] Things that we need to be clear about together. »
“So no,” he said flatly. If Hernán Losada and his staff leave at the end of the year, it would not be a good thing for us players. But at the same time, I’m not saying that we are two or three small details away from winning the MLS Cup. »
