Post-Practice press-conference August 15,2024

Laurent Courtois

Q: Are you satisfied with the personnel changes made by your sporting directors at the end of the transfer market?

LC: We want to breathe new life into the team. We also want to build not only on the present, but on future short-, medium- and long-term objectives. So, of course, it’s a pleasure to be able to sign young players with high potential, who we can look to for the long term.

Q: Have the arrivals and departures of the last few days and weeks altered the team’s short-term objectives?

LC: No, they haven’t. In the sense that if we look ahead to the playing time I gave Ruan and Ariel Lassiter, we know that they were important players for me, on a human level too. You also have to think about the future, and the style of play I’d like to get closer to in the very short and medium term. We also take the family and contractual situation of the guys into account. We also need to see how we can put them in the best possible position to progress in their careers. The players have values that they’ve been able to build on, and we’re happy with that, so it doesn’t change anything. We’re just trying to be more pertinent and precise in what we want to do.

Q: Can we expect to see the two young players play? Can fans expect to see them often on the pitch despite the time of their arrival?

LC: Yeah, and they’re outstanding in terms of their ability to cover the field and repeat efforts, and in terms of intensity too. Their age and their background mean that they’re very hungry and very keen to progress and they’re very attentive to everything. We’ll see what happens in the first few days. It’s often like that at the start, but they’ve got the potential, the desire and the project to play and that’s pretty exciting.

Q: Ruan and Lassiter had their qualities, but they also had their faults. For example, Ruan was very good at getting the ball deep, but after that, crosses were more difficult for him.  Nevertheless, these two have been regular starters since the start of the season. Can the new players arriving compensate for the departure of these two players, who were indisputable starters for you?

LC: As far as I’m concerned, Lassiter and Ruan are on different levels, but strangely enough, it’s mainly in terms of their identity and defense that I really liked their performances. Lassiter was my best defender in the front three and Ruan, who was very solid, except in Orlando, strangely enough, but very solid and reliable defensively. It’s true that we struggled to find him in combination play and in the final pass, but what he brought to training in terms of effort and work ethic was very important to me. And little by little, we’re trying, obviously it’s going to take time, but to bring on board young players who are more suited to doing the things we’re trying to do offensively.

Q: We’ve got two players who’ve moved from one position to another since they turned professional, and they’ve changed a lot. Do you have clear positions for them on the pitch, or are you going to use them a little bit everywhere?

LC: I think it’s an asset, even if it’s not clear to the player at the time, but I think it’s an asset. In the long term, I hope to be able to coach players capable of playing at least two positions in two different formations. So all the better if they’ve experienced those moments, and of course there’s a project with the club to develop them in those two positions we have in mind, but it’s going to take time.

Q: Does the fact that we have JMR from Toronto, who arrives here in Montreal, mean that there’s extra mental work to be done with this type of player who comes from a rival?

LC: Actually, I’ll ask him and I’ll ask around. The kid was being blocked by players who cost millions of dollars. He just wants to be considered and to be given attention, to develop his skills, not just in terms of the number of minutes he plays at weekends, but also in terms of how he develops his skills. So the youngster’s eyes light up because he knows we’re there to develop him. His development is our success, and that’s what we’re going to focus on in the future. After that, he’s going to learn in the field, live, and in competition, but he’s patient, and he knows the message: nothing can be taken for granted. But of course they’re very excited to be here.

Q: You’ve worked with youngsters in Columbus Crew 2 and helped bring some of them up to the top, Mohammed Farsi and company. Personally, for you as a coach, is it a project that excites you, that enthralls you, to welcome these two youngsters and then have the mission of getting them up to, whatever that may lead to?

LC: I started coaching because I felt I didn’t have the coach I would have liked to have had when I was 17, 18 and 19 years old. They didn’t explain to me what you really need to progress on to have a career, and also the invisible soccer, the locker room stuff and the attitude, and it’s with that in mind that I wanted to start coaching. When you have youngsters with great potential who are also hungry to progress and are so happy to be there, it’s a pleasure for me, for a coach, for anyone. There’s nothing more painful for a coach or a father to see someone dragging their feet when they kick the ball.

Q: What are the keys to helping a youngster blossom for you, in your methods? What are the keys to making young players of this age blossom and reach their potential?

LC: I don’t have a magic recipe, all I can do is pay attention. We’re going to educate them, we’re going to dedicate time so that the players can really work on their individual specialization. A study of the video and then apply it on the pitch, and ideally, have minutes in the match and repeat and continue to develop this dialogue and shape his progress independently of your playing minutes. It’s not just the minutes you play. There are guys who play 90 minutes and then suck. No matter how much you tell them and show them. But even if you only contribute ten or 20 minutes, it still helps build you for the future.

Q: To what extent were you consulted about the acquisition of these profiles? You said you were consulted about the market, but are these the types of profiles you described that were presented to you?

LC: Yes, we listed three players per position we were interested in, and it’s often the same ones that keep coming up in discussions. Then there were one or two times when it was players I didn’t know and when we were able to quantify the athletic datasets with the videos of what we knew from the scouts on the reports, which we agreed were really close to what we wanted.

Q: Is there a reason why Mathieu Choinière wasn’t at training today?

LC: We had decided to leave the international players the whole week, but Sam Piette missed training, so he came along and won’t be here tomorrow. But otherwise, whether it’s Joel Waterman, Mathieu, Ariel, and Sam, they were supposed to rest a little more than the others. It had nothing to do with anything else.

Q: About the rumors you’ve seen, what do you have to say about what’s been written about them?

LC: As long as it’s not official, they’re still rumors. But the players who weren’t there were just on leave. It’s nothing to do with what you might imagine.

Q: Can we expect Mathieu Choinière to be at his position on August 24?

LC: I’m expecting him on Monday. We’ll see after that, but we’ll let him rest and we’ll work to prepare for the game against New England.

Q: There are still some places on the squad to be filled, both senior and supplemental. Can we expect either academy signings or unrestricted free agents?

LC: Initially we wanted to sign Nikola Markovic, but he preferred the college and for the moment, it’s still up for discussion. We’re trying to evaluate what we want to do in terms of other elements, but it’s in the discussions.

Q: And just to clarify for Ariel and Ruan, did they ask to leave?

LC: Not that I know of. It’s other elements, whether it’s contractual, family, sporting, age, identity in the medium and long term, all of which came into play. At the end of the day, we’re also trying to do what’s best for the player, and that’s why I’m completely at peace with it. Even if it may not seem obvious at the time, we also wanted to do what was best for the player.

Q: We’ve seen a few cryptic publications on social networks recently, for example from Josef Martinez, and we know that he was left out of the last game. Do you get the impression that the atmosphere is good in the dressing room right now? Is it an issue of discipline? Is it a discipline game that’s up to you? Or how would you describe the atmosphere in the dressing room?

LC: In the locker room, I don’t really know. But in the practice field, you were there. What did you find?

Q: The end was cheerful.

LC: There are egos there that we’re trying to control, and above all one, and everyone else is happy to be here and wants to progress and have fun. We’re keeping a close eye on Josef because we’re very disappointed. There’s a big gap between the person I spoke to on the phone before signing and what he’s doing at the moment. So on a human level, for the moment, it’s a big disappointment, and on a sporting level it depends on what you look at. But apart from that, I think there’s a good atmosphere. We’d just like to perform a little better to be able to give back to the fans, but the group is getting on well.

Q: That’s what I wanted to ask you, were you surprised by this outcome? Because at the beginning of the year, you were talking about him as a very positive leader, where did that change?

LC: I’ll give you my hand until you betray me.

Q: At what point in the season did that happen?

LC: You’ve seen it very recently, so we’re working on it. We’re constantly reminding and coaching as we’ve done in the past with every player who makes a mistake. In addition, you have to differentiate between two things: it’s either a deplorable attitude, which I lament a little, which hasn’t happened very often, or someone who makes a mistake. My job is to differentiate between people who make mistakes and let them know, and players who show you their true colors. So it’s two things to differentiate between a mistake that you want to correct, rectify and coach and someone who shows you that they’re out there, you have to be vigilant.

Q: There have been a lot of changes in the mercato for you and your team, and there are still nine games on the calendar. Do you feel that there’s a bit more pressure on you as a coach, because the club has given you some new weapons to help you perform and change the results that were so-so?

LC: The truth is, I just want to repay the trust that was placed in me. I’ve been asked to do a number of things. My dream is to qualify the team for the playoffs, but I’ve also been asked to play a style of game and please the fans. I’m not satisfied with any of these things. After the playoffs, of course, it’s a dream, and it could compensate for certain things, but I’d really like to be able to achieve the first two aspects. It’s a work in progress, as they say. After that, it’s about giving back to the fans what they’ve given us game after game. That’s what we’re going to try to do until the end of the season.

Q: Dawid Bugaj seemed to have a slight problem with his head. Have you had any news from him?

LC: Every time we do the small sided game, we repeat It over and over again that we’re afraid that Ibrahim Sunusi might hurt someone or run into someone, because sometimes he can’t control his footing and he’s very stocky. So today it’s with Bugaj, the other time it was someone else and so on, but I don’t know if it’s serious. Little David is strong, but I didn’t know any more than that.

Q: Is there a bad habit or anything you’ve seen from the guys that you’re really trying to hammer home with the guys that you’re trying to see change?

LC: Yes, they’re too excited to kick the ball, so I stop them before someone gets concussed.

Caden Clark

Q:  How long have you been here? When did you make it here?

CC: Yeah, I arrived Sunday night and I had a couple of days to do some individual training and kind of get up to speed with everything and explore the city. It’s been nice and I’ve enjoyed my time so far.

Q: When did you learn about the trade and what was your reaction when you learned it was Montreal?

CC: I think it was last Thursday, I believe, because the transfer window closes here sooner. Minnesota basically just texted me and called me and asked me if I’d want to go there. Montreal proposed their plan to me, and I was in a spot with Minnesota where I wasn’t playing my preferable position. The team was going through a transition, and it’s never easy to leave home, but I trust these guys here and they trust my abilities. It was a commitment from both sides and I’m happy to be here.

Q:  What was the plan that they spoke to you about here?

CC: It’s just getting back to my roots by playing my position and achieving my full potential and seeing where that takes me. I’m very happy to be here and excited.

Q: Did you have the final say whether you wanted to be here or not?

CC: This league is in the trades. Some people don’t know, and some know. Minnesota was respectful and respected my decision and gave me a choice, but you don’t know where that could have led to. I’m happy to be here and I wanted to join.

Q:  What’s your preferred position? Is it more on the attacking side?

CC: I prefer playing in the 10 or 8 position and coming down to get the ball and connecting with my teammates and / or staying in the pocket and getting in behind. I think I can do both. That’s where I like to play and I haven’t been playing there, so I’m happy to get that here.

Q: What did you know about Montreal before coming here and what did you learn since the first few days here?

CC: I played here one time with the New York Red Bulls. I’ve been here before and I enjoyed the city when we were here. And the food’s very good and it’s a vibrant city and there’s a lot going on. I kind of feel like sometimes when I walk out of buildings that I’m in New York because some buildings have the same type of vibe which is nice to feel that because I played there for three years. So it doesn’t feel too different except for the French language.

Q: Does it feel more like New Jersey or New York?

CC:  More New York than Jersey

Q:  When you came to the realization that it wasn’t going to work out in Minnesota, where you’re from, how hard was it?

CC: I asked myself the same question, just realizing what happened and everything with the situation. I’m grateful for the time I got to be at home during the last six months after being on the road since I was 13. I have the rest of my life to live there and a bunch of time to go back or my family will come here. I have to do what I can to maximize my career. I think I realized that after being home, being comfortable and seeing friends every day. You’re around your family, which I love but I think it’s good to be uncomfortable and to go to a different country with different languages and different food. And why not? I’m young. I want to try to see the world and get the best out of myself. I didn’t really have a homesickness problem, and I wasn’t scared of it. I’m very excited to be here.

Q: What have you learned so far on your footballing journey? You’ve gone all over the place and now you’re back from Europe, what have you learned throughout this entire journey up until this point?

CC: I think there’s off the field and on the field. I’ve matured a lot, and I feel like being more calm on the field and off the field and just realizing what matters to me and having my priorities straight is important to me and I’ve learned that every player has to go through it. I’m not saying we’re doing crazy stuff, but just taking the right professional steps to get the best out of myself, making sure you go to bed, get enough sleep, eat the right things. It’s simple stuff, but it really does make a difference. I think it’s easier said than done for a lot of people. But on the field what’s the next action? I’m going to mess up and make mistakes. We’re young players and I think you just need to think about your next action and forget about the rest. I have been playing this game since I was three, so you’re not going to trust yourself because you’ve made one mistake? I think that’s the kind of mentality you have to go with if you want to be a threatening attacking player.

Q: Being only 21, is it important for you at this point of your career to be in one place for a longer period just to build your game and show what you can do in order to take the next step forward?

CC: My contract has three and a half years left which shows that. I also talked with the club about backing myself up by guaranteeing this year and next year and then it’s up to the club. We’ve talked with the club about what that looks like and everything and how they picture it, and I think we’re on the same page about that. They’ve done it with Djordje Mihailovic, where he’s came in and did well and took the next step and if that’s for me then that’s for me, and if it’s not, well I enjoy the way they play here and the way they play with the ball which I think suits me.

Q: Did you have a chat with Laurence Courtois yet?

CC: Yes, we’ve had a couple of chats, and he brought me into the team and explained to me what to expect. Like I said, we’re on the same page about things, and I hope I can gain his trust and vice versa. We can push for the playoffs this year and go beyond that.

Q: There’s been a lot of changes recently within the club here. You’re one of the new players that are coming in. Do you have the feeling that you get the keys of the of the team offensively now? Do you get that feeling after chatting with Courtois?

CC: I want to come in and be one of the main guys to help the team out, but I can talk about it all I want. However, I have to show it on the field to get the trust of my strikers and my midfielders and make them want to give me the ball. I think that’s very important. I grew up with Bryce Duke while playing at the Barcelona Academy, so we know each other’s movements and we’ve already connected a couple times in practice. It’s just learning the tempo of how the guys play and where they like it and where they don’t like it. Same thing for me, it’s going to take a little bit of time, but we’re already gelling well. The vibes in the locker room and the people there are very good. I’m enjoying myself and I have nothing bad to say.

Q: Djordje was a bit older than you. Do you know him personally? Have you talked to him at all?

CC: We have the same agent, so it’s a similar situation that went down when he was 22 years old, and he came here to find his feet again and flourished. Now he’s doing well back in Colorado. We’ve talked after games about how everything is going and we’re in contact but not like best friends. I’m going to reach out to him and get his take on the city and where to live.

Q: In hindsight, do you think you made the move to Europe a little bit too early in your journey?

CC: This is the thing I have about Europe, going to Europe is great, but you have to find the right place. Do you really want to leave a club where you know the players, the system, and you know everything about the place? Just to go to a new one with a lot of uncertainties? You must find the right place and find your feet quickly. I think that game is very quick, and no one messes up there and they have world class players. I think for me it wasn’t too quick of a move, but it was the way things played out in New York at the end with the playing time and the coaches. It’s always tough when you have a transfer agreement, and then you’re there for a year and for some people who have different point of view of you because you’re leaving. I don’t think it was too early. I think it was injuries and the coaching staff and what they believed for me.

Q: You talked earlier about accepting that you’re going to make mistakes and dealing with it. Was there a time when you were too hard on yourself and did you grow in that side of things?

CC: I think everyone tries to be perfect in everything they do. They try to be the best they can be, but it’s about your reaction. It’s about forgetting about the last play. You can’t think of it and let it drag you on. If you have your first bad pass in a game. Are you going to let that decide your game for you? No, you got to forget about that. That’s my approach going into it: I’m going to mess up, but if I mess up ten times but one of them goes through, it’s a goal, so I just have to keep trying and trying.

Jaheele Marshall-Rutty

Q: How surprised were you and what was your reaction when you saw the trade?

JMR: My club came to me and said that CF Montreal was interested in me, then I spoke with Corey Wray and Laurent Courtois. Once I spoke with them, it made my decision easier because they told me the plan that they have for young players with potential which is to play them and become a good team in this league. They’re very family oriented, which made my decision a lot easier.

Q: Were you familiar with the club’s track record in terms of selling players like Ismael Kone and Djordje Mihailovic, etc.?

JMR: Yes of course, before I came that’s one of the things they told me about. Of course, as a young guy in the league, I always keep track of every kind of team’s track record. I’ve seen Alistair Johnston, Kone, Mihailovic, and some very good young Canadian players that came here and excelled, so I hope to be the next one.

Q: What was your first thought when you knew it was Montreal (Toronto’s rival)?

JMR:  I know it means a lot to the fans and it obviously means a lot to me too because I’m from Toronto. However, at the end of the day, I just want to play football. I’m a young player and I just want to improve and grow every single day. And I’m so grateful that CF Montreal gave me this opportunity to grow and to become a player that I wish to be one day.

Q: What kind of guarantees did you get? I know there’s no playing time ever guaranteed, but how big of a part of the discussion was the guarantee that you were going to have your opportunities to earn your spot?

JMR: Yeah, like you said, there’s no guarantee. I have to come here, still work hard and prove myself. There is, like I said, a good pathway for young players to come here and develop. It’s a very young and good team and I like the coaching staff. They want to build a good team to win trophies and that’s why I came here to win and to develop.

Q: CF Montreal made way for the new guys, including yourself, to have room to play right now because they traded Ruan and Ariel Lassiter. What’s your assessment of what you can do?

JMR: I’m disappointed I didn’t get a chance to meet them, and I heard good stuff about those guys, but it’s football and there’s trades within the whole league. I’m grateful, like I said, that Montreal is giving me this opportunity. I know this is a chance for me because they moved those guys. With those guys here or not, I’ll still come here with the same mentality which is to work hard, get to know the players, and take my chance when I get it.

Q: That was one of the problems in Toronto where there were other star players, such as Federico Bernadeschi who was playing in your position, did you have a real chance to get that starting spot in the last few years?

JMR: All my coaches there that I’ve had, have given me chances. I’ve developed well this year with John Herdman and Alex Dodgshon. But with TFC bringing in those players who are very good players and they have to play them. As a young player, I was still given chances to develop and play. Here in Montreal, there is more of a pathway for young players to develop and I think this was a good opportunity for me.

Q: Is there a position that you like to play more?

JMR:  I feel like my strongest position is as a wing back. When I spoke to Courtois, he said that he like players that can play two positions. I would say a winger or a wing back, but wherever I can play, I’ll play. I’m still young and I’m learning how I play each game, and I must keep learning.

Q:  Are you open to different positions in case, let’s say he wants to put you as a as a box-to-box midfielder, which they already did with Ismael Kone, who came in as a winger and was switch to a midfielder?

JMR: Of course, I’m always listening to people that know more about the game about which position they think I can play. But like I said, I think my strongest positions are wing back and winger. I’ve played midfield before with Toronto, but I think wing back and winger is where I can excel.

Q:  There was a good amount of outrage online from Toronto fans when they learned about the trade. Did you read all that stuff? Are you aware that people there are disappointed to see you go?

JMR: I tried to stay away from the media and to read things because I just want to improve and become the best version of myself every day. I hear things from my family, friends, or people, but it doesn’t mean anything because people in football always have opinions. Like I said, to the fans, this rivalry means a lot, but it means a lot to me as well. I just want to improve and become the best version of myself which is the reason I made this decision.

Q: Looking back on your time in Toronto, how would you sum it up? Playing for your hometown team, being in the first team? How would you sum up the last three or four years?

JMR: I’m so grateful, there’s so many Toronto kids that would love to play for the first team. I got to to play in front of my family at BMO field was such an honor and I’ll forever hold that with me, but I’m here now and I’m excited for this new challenge to improve and become the best version of myself.

Q:  Along the years, like since you signed that contract at 15 years old, were there moments when you got frustrated, maybe at the way your career was managed by the club? Either because there were rumors of European transfers before and was there ever a moment when you got frustrated about the way things were looking for you?

JMR: In football there’s always frustrations with playing and injuries, so I think I’ve learned to deal with those things. Like I said, I’m very grateful because I think Toronto shaped me into the player I am today and the young man I am today. I still have so much learning to do and improving to do. Like I said, I’m just happy to be here and I think what I did in Toronto and what they did for me helped me become who I am and essentially got me here. So, I think they’ve done a pretty good job.

Q: So, no bad feelings for Toronto FC?

JMR: No, of course not.