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Matias Coccaro says he loves scoring objectives. That may come as welcome information to a CF Montréal aspect that sorely wanted them final season.
The 26-year-old Uruguayan striker stated scoring could be a precedence as he made his first feedback since becoming a member of Montreal on Thursday.
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Alongside newly acquired attacking midfielder Dominik Yankov, Coccaro shall be tasked with rebooting a Montreal assault had that just about fully stalled final season. No Montreal participant scored greater than six objectives in all competitions in 2023.
“I’m a correct 9 (striker), I’m right here to attain objectives and I like that,” stated Coccaro, who had 31 objectives and 7 assists in 131 video games with Huracan. “It’s additionally a workforce sport and I’ll do no matter is required to assist the workforce.
“If I’ve to drop into defend, then I’ll, however successful and scoring are my priorities.”
Coccaro referred to as Montreal “a really fascinating sporting mission in a league that’s rising.”
“Coming from membership like Huracan, I consider in what’s occurring right here and I’m actually excited,” he stated.
After last-minute development at Olympic Stadium compelled CF Montréal to relocate the beginning of preseason coaching to Tucson, Ariz., the membership lastly skilled at house, taking the sphere at Complexe sportif Marie-Victorin.
“It was nice to get again to the sphere and have an area like this,” stated new head coach Laurent Courtois. “All these obstacles, like not having the ability to prepare at house, I see them as alternatives to bond and construct chemistry.”
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Montreal has traditionally had tough begins. Since 2017, the membership has loved a successful report within the opening part of the MLS season simply as soon as. The vast majority of its opening video games are performed away from house as Saputo Stadium can not host video games in the beginning of the season.
However this 12 months the workforce is embracing the added problem of getting almost your entire coaching camp away from house, utilizing the time to focus solely on soccer and rising as a unit.
“This complete camp has been an awesome problem. This method is a bit completely different from final 12 months’s and we’re collectively and individually targeted on a regular basis,” stated goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois. “It’s a system that enables us to have quite a lot of enjoyable after we get it proper, but it surely wants quite a lot of apply to get proper.”
Courtois, who beforehand coached the event squad of the Columbus Crew, has a really related fashion of play as former Montreal head coach — and present Crew head coach — Wilfried Nancy.
He has continually preached making an attempt to get ahead, take dangers, and create probabilities. All three had been sorely lacking from Montreal final 12 months, which went from an offensive powerhouse in 2022 to one of many league’s lowest-scoring groups the next 12 months.
Comparatively, Courtois was on the helm of what has been the most effective assault in MLS Subsequent Professional because it launched in 2021. He says he’s nonetheless attending to know his new squad.
“We’re nonetheless discovering issues concerning the gamers, and I feel some gamers didn’t even know that they had permission to attempt sure issues on the pitch,” he stated. “Now’s after we actually get to know a participant.
“I’m very to get to know them in a deeper approach. I’m typically curious of those that don’t communicate a lot as a result of they typically have probably the most to say. After I see the extra extroverted gamers, I’m pleased as effectively as a result of they convey that vitality that helps everybody come out of their shell.”
Montreal will depart for Florida on the finish of the week, the place it should full the rest of its camp.
In addition they have three extra friendlies to play towards Atlanta United on Feb. 7, Colorado Rapids on Feb. 10, and towards the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Feb. 17 earlier than their season-opener Feb. 24 at Orlando.
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