After an “un-fun” three-game streak, where CF Montreal were supplanted 10-0 on aggregate, the club did an autopsy of their performance. Coroner Aaron Herrera has finally delivered his report.
The verdict was not very surprising.
“Our conclusion was unanimous: we had to increase the intensity. In this sport, you make your own luck by giving more and fighting more,” Herrera assured after Tuesday morning’s practice at Center Nutrilait.
Here, the finger has been put on the bobo. At least, one of the sores. Through hard work, CFM was able to preserve two consecutive shutouts. First against Vaughan Azzurri in the Canadian Championship – a formality, of course – then against the New York Red Bulls, last Saturday.
This esprit de corps was visible against the New Jersey club. Notably by the actions of Mathieu Choinière, who went from a spectacular drop that he concluded with a perfect sliding tackle to regain possession in the second half. A few minutes later, he “drained all the gas” he said he had left, to get a rebound and confirm the victory of his team of 2-0.
And these two sequences are all in contrast to the last few weeks.
During the first game at Stade Saputo of the season, the group of supporters Collectif Impact Montréal held up a tifo asking that more jerseys be wet. After the said game against D.C. United, Impact head coach Hernán Losada noted that few players had provided the minimum according to him. What it requires is “effort” and “sacrifice”.
Without being questioned on the subject, Herrera returned to the relevance of providing a constant and honest effort.
“It’s the minimum,” insisted the right-back. Intensity and effort must be present. I think you saw it in the last game, everyone was ready to fight. From the 1st to the 90th minute. »
This mission applies to everyone. Former Bleu-blanc-noir star forward and assistant coach Eduardo Sebrango says he worked with the forwards to get them more involved and invested in the game.
“We don’t want to be static, we want to be mobile. We worked on that last week,” he said.
For the first time with Herrera on the lawn, the CFM managed to shake the net. The American’s low cross was deflected by a New Yorkers defender before allowing the Saputo stadium bell to ring.
The start of the season was disastrous on the attacking level for the club, with only goals in one of the first seven games of the season. This blackout, which was discussed ad nauseam, took a toll on player morale, according to Herrera.
But slowly the automatics set in and the arrival of Bryce Duke, who mostly operated near Herrera’s hallway, helped him find his touch.
“Bryce is one of my good friends, so that helps on the court. When you can pair a very technical guy with an athletic guy, it gets results,” he noted.
Both Real Salt Lake academy alumni were important to the attacking success against the Red Bulls. They will try to make the pair again against Sporting Kansas City, the league’s worst team, on Saturday night.
