(Montreal) FC Montreal took advantage of the international break to heal its wounds and reunite with some of its regular players. And he may need it.
Having recovered from their feelings after signing for a stunning win over the Philadelphia Union in their home opener, Bleu-blanc-noir will finally resume action on Saturday night, after two weeks of not playing.
The bad news for the Montreal family is that they have to leave their comfort zone for a quick visit to Vancouver against the Whitecaps.
And since the start of the season, matches abroad have not provided the expected results for Hernan Losada’s men. Montreal Football Club lost its three matches on opposing courts and did not score any goals.
But the good news is that the health of Quebec midfielder Samuel Peet and defenders Kamal Miller and Aaron Herrera has improved so much that they should be in charge on Saturday. Piette and Herrera missed the clash against Union while Miller surprised many by playing 80 minutes despite feeling uncomfortable.
During media availability on Wednesday, Losada mentioned that the break came at the right time, but after a win like the one he won on March 18 at the Olympic Stadium, the team always wants to get back on the court quickly.
Maybe he wants the passion and energy to still be there? Especially when it comes to a grueling trip like a weekend getaway.
The chance is good for Montreal (1-3-0) while the Whitecaps (0-2-3) haven’t won this season, but it would be a mistake to underestimate their opponents.
BC is unbeaten in its last three Major League Soccer matches, and they were drawn to a dramatic 1-1 draw with Minnesota United last Saturday. The Whites also found themselves in the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Champions League, having defeated Real Espana 7-3 on aggregate goals.
So Losada, who will be on his first visit to Vancouver, expects a tough and tight match, as is usual in Major League Soccer.
“All teams are difficult to face and all matches are difficult. There is a lot of competition in this league. In addition to that, we play abroad, the journey takes more than five hours and three hours of time difference. I hope we can get a good result because it is also important that we are ambitious in this season.”
Herrera, acquired from Real Salt Lake during the offseason, missed his stunning win two weeks ago due to injury, but has hinted he will be in uniform on Saturday.
Since joining MLS in 2018, Herrera has made four stops in Vancouver and has confirmed BC’s place as one like no other.
“It’s not an easy place to play. There’s an interesting atmosphere. It’s hard to explain. There’s the Dome and although there aren’t a lot of supporters, it seems there are a lot of them. The ground isn’t very good. It’s a different atmosphere than anywhere else in the league.” »
The Whitecaps may not have won once this season, but they still found a way to score. They’ve scored a goal in each of their five MLS matches in 2023.
One of the main contributors to these five goals is midfielder Julien Grissel, who was acquired by the Whitecaps in July 2022. The German, now a US citizen, has already picked up three assists this season.
Losada knows him well, having managed in 2022 with D.C. United, and Herrera is also no stranger to getting creative with the ball from Grissel, who has 63 assists in 189 MLS career games.
“I don’t think I’ve played for the Whitecaps since Grissel was with the team, but we know he’s a really good occasional player,” Herrera said. Every time he’s higher up on the field, we have to be vigilant. »
In addition to midfielder Matko Miljevic and goalkeeper James Pantemis, who are out due to long-term injuries, the Montreal club will also miss the services of Finnish midfielder Lassi Lapalainen, who will not travel with the team. The latter injured his left leg, according to the MLS injury report.
