Laurent Courtois retains the backing of CF Montreal president Gabriel Gervais regardless of a depressing run of kind hampering their playoff hopes forward of Saturday’s conflict with Charlotte FC.
Montreal sit thirteenth within the Jap Convention standings, 5 factors adrift of the wild-card spots with seven video games of the common season remaining.
They have been trounced 4-1 at FC Cincinnati previous to the worldwide break, having suffered a humiliating 5-0 house loss to Inter Miami only one week earlier.
Regardless of these outcomes, Gervais stays satisfied Courtois is the suitable man to supervise Montreal’s push for the postseason.
“The expectations are the identical and we wish to get to the playoffs. I’m optimistic and I consider in it, however it’s as much as the coach and the gamers to search out options,” Gervais stated.
“The final two performances have been unacceptable. Particularly the 5-0 defeat at house. Personally, I haven’t digested it as a director, as a former participant and as a fan.
“Laurent is a younger head coach and there are plenty of issues to work on, however I consider in him. I’m not one to panic or have an impulsive response.”
Bonne fête coach
Completely happy birthday Laurent Courtois #CFMTL pic.twitter.com/Dg6Nz5i4IS
— CF Montréal (@cfmontreal) September 11, 2024
Charlotte, in the meantime, sit sixth within the East and look good for a playoff spot of their first marketing campaign underneath Dean Smith.
Former Aston Villa midfielder Ashley Westwood has been one in all their key performers this time period, and he penned a brand new two-year contract with the membership earlier this week.
“Life in Charlotte has been an unimaginable expertise for me and my household, and I’m extraordinarily blissful to re-sign with the membership,” Westwood stated.
“I joined Charlotte FC at a really tough level following a critical damage, and it’s been a breath of recent air that has really revitalised my profession.
“We all know we will attain higher heights, and I’m excited to proceed main this group.”
A Captain on and off the pitch.
Impacting the town of Charlotte whereas representing the Crown pic.twitter.com/ov6cUWwlM5
— Charlotte FC (@CharlotteFC) September 10, 2024
PLAYERS TO WATCH
CF Montreal – Josef Martinez
5 of Montreal’s final seven regular-season targets have been scored by substitutes.
Montreal have seen an MLS-high 12 targets scored by substitutes this season, together with Martinez with a joint-league excessive 4 targets off the bench.
Charlotte FC – Karol Swiderski
Two of Charlotte’s final three targets have been scored from the penalty spot, with Swiderski netting each.
Swiderski has an ideal six-from-six report from the penalty spot in his MLS profession, one in all six gamers to take at the least six penalties over the past three seasons and convert all of them.
MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW
Montreal have gone unbeaten via their 4 all-time conferences with Charlotte (three wins, one draw). Montreal are the one workforce Charlotte have confronted greater than twice in regular-season MLS play with out recording at the least one win.
Nonetheless, Saturday’s hosts have misplaced 5 of their final six matches in all competitions (one win) after solely shedding two of their earlier 11 relationship again to late Might (three wins, six attracts).
Charlotte, in the meantime, have averted defeat in 5 of their final six regular-season street video games, profitable three and drawing two. It might be no shock to see the spoils shared.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
CF Montreal – 35.5%
Charlotte FC – 38.5%
Draw – 26.1%