Joel Waterman
Q: It was a busy transfer window for Montreal with lots of key players leaving and some new faces arriving. What do you make of all these changes in the team?
JW: It’s just the way the transfer window goes, obviously, we knew there was going to be some changes with some key guys that had key minutes for us. We brought in younger players and freshness to the team. I think they’ll add something different than what we didn’t have before and as long as we can gel as quickly and make a run for these last nine games to the playoffs, it’s going to be good.
Q: What’s the mindset in these last nine games? Is it one game at a time or do you see it as a mini season?
JW: It’s both, to take it one game at a time but we know that the objective is clear: make the playoffs and go as far as we can. That’s always been our goal since the beginning of the season and the way we do that is to take care of the details each and every day in training games. We have to win our games at home too which is a massive part of it and just take care of the little details each and every game.
Q: What was the focus on in these last two weeks of training?
JW: It’s been a lot of hard work. For some guys, it’s just getting fit again to make sure that we train well and together. It’s been a lot of unit work and tactics pretty similar to the rest of the year. Obviously what I’ve felt from the rest of the squad is another level because we know what’s at stake these last nine games and everyone’s been training really well and it’s good to see.
Q: During this transfer window, there have been some players in and out but the center back position has remained mostly untouched, what does that feel like? Is that a vote of confidence from the technical staff and the coach? How has the center back core responded to staying the same?
JW: We haven’t really talked about it but we know our abilities as a back line, our strengths, and what we can do. For ourselves, it’s about staying consistent and our jobs never changes which is keeping the ball out of the back of our net which I think we can still do better. Obviously, we fit the project of playing out and having the ball and doing those kind of different things. It’s about cleaning stuff up on the defensive side and giving ourselves and our team the best chance to win games.
Q: It looks as if Mathieu Choinière has played his last game for the club and you’ve known him since you came here. What’s your feeling seeing him leave? Did you get a chance to speak to him the last few days?
JW: He’s been a massive part of this club for basically his whole life. He grew up in the Academy and is the success story that every kid dreams about. Just seeing the way he carries himself around the club and how much he cared about the club and things of that nature. He’s an amazing guy and deserves everything that’s coming his way. He will be missed on the team because he’s a top player within the league and our team. At the end of the day it gives the opportunity for other guys to step up. We’ll recover from it, but he was a massive part of it and an amazing guy. I got to spend time with him at the national team as well. I wish him nothing but the best.
Q: Following up on that question about Mathieu leaving, it probably means that Nathan Saliba is going to get more responsibilities or constant playing time. How have you seen his game grow this season?
JW: He’s a great young talent, first and foremost, and a great kid. He’s a sponge that wants to learn and get better. He has the right attitude to improve and he wants to make that jump to Europe eventually as well. That’s his dream. He’s in the right place to do so and he’s got to get more games. He’s got to be consistently a top performer for our squad each and every game and I believe he can do that. He’s shown it in training and he showed it in many games this year. If he can get some consistency within his minutes and within his play, he’s going to do amazing things.
Q: You’re younger than me, but you’re older than most of your teammates. You guys traded Ruan, Mason Toye, and Ariel Lassiter which were all veterans, what’s your point of view of having less veterans to work with the younger guys?
JW: When you make up a team, you have to have that balance. We lost a couple older guys that were part of our veteran core that made sure that the standards were being met. These were guys that knew the standards, the rules, things of that nature. It’s difficult to lose a couple guys, but we still have enough veteran leadership on this team where we can keep things together. We can show the younger guys what the league is about such as traveling or any questions they may have. I think right now we have a great balance of youth and veteran presence on the team and I think it sets us up nicely for the last nine games.
Q: Before training session recently, I saw you playing around with Jaheele Marshall-Rutty, it seemed like he brought a lot of energy with him. Just wondering what your first impression is of the kid?
JW: I’ve actually known Jaheele for years with the national team. He was with the national team when I came in in 2021, so we’ve seen each other at camps and we’ve gotten close because of that. When I found out he was coming, I reached out and said, “if you need any help, let me know.” It’s not easy transitioning to a new city, especially when it’s your rival. He’s navigating it really well and he’s a good kid. He’s another player that needs consistent minutes and I think he’ll get that here because his ceiling and potential is huge. If I can play a small part in that and just helping him along the way, then I’ll do it.
Dawid Bugaj
Q: Welcome to Montreal, how has it been going in training in the past few weeks since you’ve arrived? How are you getting used to a new environment, new coach, new tactics and all of that?
DB: Thank you so much. It’s been great, I got a very good and warm welcome from the team and from the staff. I’m a person that adapts fast and so this wasn’t a big problem for me. As for the tactics and training, they’ve all been going well. I’m happy to be here and, like I said, I adapt fast and I’m ready for everything.
Q: Being a young player, how do you see your time in Montreal? What do you want to accomplish here and how do you want to use your time with this team?
DB: A club like CF Montreal has the philosophy to develop young players, so this is the perfect place for me. I want to improve and be the best version of myself every day and show it in trainings and games.
Q: The president had good words about you, and he said that you’re very versatile and that you can play on the wing and also on the inside. What do you like to play the most on the pitch?
DB: We play on a 3-5-2 formation, so I feel most comfortable on the wing back, but like the president said, I can play many different positions wherever the coach wants me to play, I’m going to do my best. I’m ready for everything.
Q: Since you’ve arrived, have you had any veteran that came to you to see you and help you adjust and take you under their wing? Do you have any names of players that have helped you in particular?
DB: I think the whole team staff, I got a very good and warm welcome. Since I’ve arrived here, I got a help from everyone, they are all very nice. They all helped me and I’m happy about that.
Q: You said you were a guy that adapts quickly to new environments, I was wondering if you could talk a little bit about your personal background? I read on your Wikipedia page that you were born in Poland but grew up in Denmark and played in Italy as well. So, can you tell us a bit about your personal upbringing?
DB: I was born in Poland and my parents are Polish, but when I was two years old, we moved to Norway, not Denmark. I grew up there because my because my dad played football. It was a plan just to go there for a few years, but my parents liked it so much that we just stayed. I was going to school there and played for a club called Molde in Norway until I was 16 years old and after that I got a contract in Italy for SPAL and played there for three years. Then my last season I was on was on loan in Lechia Gdansk in Poland and now I’m here.
Q: Have you had any conversations with Laurent Courtois about the finer parts of your position, because he did say that he didn’t anticipate you or Tom Pearce, upon your arrival, to be ready for some time and then you guys started the next week. Did you exceed their expectations or were you thrown in a bit earlier than you thought? Or had you had been told?
DB: I talked with the coach when I arrived and the plan was to start a little bit calm, because I was coming back from vacation. I had the off season because in Europe they finish in May, so I was two months without playing games. The plan was to get me back into training and get me back into form but like I said, I adapt fast and I’m coming back to form fast. I was training on my own at home too, so I think they saw at the trainings that I’m ready. I wasn’t expecting it this fast, but it happened, and I’m happy about this and I’m waiting for more.
Q: How many languages do you speak?
DB: I speak four.
Q: Four languages: Italian, English, Norwegian and Polish. Do you expect to learn French here?
DB: I hope so. It’s going to be hard, but many people here speak in French, so I must at least learn some words. I hope I’m going to learn a bit.
Q: How is MLS different from what you’ve known until now? You only played a few games but how much of a step up do you think it is from SPAL and your loan club in Poland?
DB: I think it’s a huge step for me. The league and the teams are very good, and they all know how to play, so I think it’s a huge step for me. I’m looking forward to it since I only played three games, so it’s hard to say still, but there’s going to be more. I can tell you more when I have played a little bit more, but like I said, it’s a big step. I really like the league and the team here because we have quality.
Q: I saw that you had a trial at Borussia Dortmund when you were 16 years old. Can you tell me about that part of your career and what maybe didn’t work out there at the time?
DB: I was there on trial for a week when I was 16 years old, I got an invitation from them, and I was there for a week. I think the week went well and I had good trainings, and the coach praised me a lot also. After that week I got really good feedback, but it was also during the period of Corona virus. When I come back home, they had closed everything, all the trainings and the academy closed. This was one of the main problems why it didn’t go through because they really wanted me to come back again because they really liked me. It was the coronavirus that that was the main problem there.
Q: You’ve been playing right wing back since you’ve been here, and the club just acquired Jaheele Marshall-Rutty which is his preferential position as well. How do you see the competition between the two of you for the rest of the season?
DB: In every team, you have 2 or 3 players on each position which is normal. You must fight for your place in the squad which I think I is good for the players because you must show the best version of yourself every day and develop. I’m happy he’s here so we can improve each other and we’re going to fight for our place in the squad.
Q: What intrigued you about Montreal and how did how did this move come about?
DB: Like the president said it was through the scouting from Bologna. I think it was a nice opportunity for me to come here and like I said before, it’s a club where they want to develop young players and sell them out to Europe. I think for me, as a young player, it’s a perfect place to develop myself, play games, and show the best version of myself in the games. This is the main point that I wanted to come here.
Laurent Courtois
Q: It’s been two weeks since the last game, so you’ve had a few training sessions to work on a few things and to integrate the new faces. Was that enough time to straighten things out with everyone on how to approach the end of the season?
LC: Yeah, we were able to do some tactical work and we were able to present the roles in the model of play we want to have. We were also able to present the scenarios of the last remaining games and how we need to position ourselves to have an opportunity to make the play-offs. We’ve tried to do all that and we did a good job, athletically too.
Q: Has the dynamic of the group changed a bit now that some veterans have left and some youngsters with a lot of energy are coming in? Is it a little different during training sessions?
LC: It’s always difficult, because Ariel and Ruan were very appreciated by the dressing room, the staff, and the club in general, so there’s always a bit of a lull but it’s also been a breath of fresh air, and the group has worked well together.
Q: I know that since the start of the season, you’ve never backed away from trying new things like putting in new players and throwing guys into the fray earlier than we thought. Do you think you can use the two new guys, Caden and Jaheele, in the next game?
LC: Yes, they’re involved and fit, and they’ve done some interesting things. They’re eligible like the others. There won’t be any adjustment for next year or anything.
Q: Correct me if I’m wrong, but there are no injuries in the group presently, right?
LC: Yes, so far so good.
Q: Maybe from that perspective of going into the last nine games with everyone at your disposal. How good does that feel?
LC: It’s great, it’s good for everyone. For the staff, seeing everyone together, and for the players, there’s a good dynamic and the group is living well. We’re trying to find a way to have fun but we are aware that there’s a scenario ahead of us and that it’s within our grasp, and that we must do what’s necessary to get there.
Q: Has the matter been settled with Josef Martinez? Could we see him for tomorrow’s game and for the rest of the season?
LC: Yeah, we’ve clarified a couple of things. Everything’s clear and we’re starting from scratch, and yes, he’s eligible like the others.
Q: Can I jump in on Mathieu Choinière, we understand he played his last game with CF Montreal and won’t be available for you tomorrow?
LC: The club is still negotiating or preparing for Mathieu to leave. We’re very happy for him and it’s a great story. When we had our talks at the start of the season and we were getting to know each other and our objectives, he made it very clear that this was an objective for him. It’s the success of the club and a great story for a local boy. I’m happy and everyone’s happy for him but now the hard part begins, but it’s exciting for him.
Q: A few weeks ago, you told us you’d shown your players the standings for the first time. I’m wondering if, as we approach the final stretch this weekend and with nine games left, are you watching and paying attention to yourself or do you want your players to pay attention to the remaining schedule? Are you guys watching the opponents that await you, the quality of the opponents, and the sequence of matches? Do you have a global vision for that or is it the one-game-at-a-time cliché that you’re going to adopt?
LC: The mentality is one match at a time, but of course we’ve been precise about the schemes and the quantified scenarios of whether to make the playoffs or play-in. It’s important for the players to have a visual because sometimes they hear it or we say it, but what is it? What do they really feel or understand? We’ve been able to do a little presentation of the stakes in figures and in visuals of the different scenarios. Even though we know what’s going on, we don’t really care about the quality of the opponent, it’s more a question of how we’re going to approach and perform. Now we’ve ticked all the boxes, all we must do is execute.
Q: With these four new players arriving, have these two weeks allowed you to look at things technically different or are you looking to keep the same system? Alternatively, how has that competition elevated the gameplay of some of the regulars that have gotten complacent with continuously getting starts?
LC: Who got complacent I’m sorry?
Q: Some of the starters that have not had much competition in their roles were getting too comfortable, has the arrival of these new players shaken things up and brought something new out of those players that were already on the team?
LC: We try to always do the simple things better, that was a big emphasis for us. Do what we know and what we’re supposed to execute in a simple way and in a better way. We are always experimenting with something a little bit different too. We try to get, not only all the old guys, but also the new players on the same page, then there’s been a healthy competition since we have a lot of numbers and we’re able to experiment with little competition tournaments or 11 v. 11. It’s been a great two weeks overall and, as I said, we mentioned the mental part and scenario part, we just need to execute and perform.
Q: Last year, during the break from the Leagues Cup, the team did a little in-house activity, there was a little treasure hunt and things like that. Did you do that to bring the group together and is that in the plans now?
LC: A treasure hunt?
Q: No, but a little team activity during the break between games?
LC: We try to stimulate the competitive spirit, but we don’t break our legs either. We made the team that lost the eleven vs. eleven bring back pizzas for the winning team, so that was fun. We just try to cultivate an atmosphere of being happy to be here and playing soccer. Besides, we’ve got a scenario in our hands, and we’ve shown that we’re capable of it, so we tried to play with all that, and we also had a few days off between the hard work to take our minds off things and enjoy the beautiful weather, so it was nice.
Q: Have you identified the amount of points that it’s going to take you to qualify for the playoffs this season? Do you have a target in terms of points to collect in the last nine games?
LC: Of course, that’s the thing where you must show it in visual form and quantify it a little bit, but I’m not very comfortable with that. I remember a coach who used to show us a table of objectives and after the first game he stopped showing the table, so he looked like an idiot. I’m the kind of person that says, “That’s the scenario guys and we know where we need to be.” After that, I bring each match one by one and half by half, so I hope the message is clear on that. But yes, we’ve identified precisely the figures that would enable us to qualify for the play-offs, but if you’re not in it at kick-off, there’s no point in your mathematical plans.
Q: We’ve just spoken to Dawid Bugaj, met him and learned that he speaks four languages. What are your impressions of him so far? It seems that even at a young age, he still seems to have traveled a lot and has lived a lot in different clubs, so what have you noticed about him so far?
LC: He was in the gym, and I see him speaking fluent Italian with the staff. He’s a very interesting guy and he’s shown an incredible ability to adapt, a desire to be coached and to progress that so far is amazing. It’s super nice to work with players like that.
Q: The team plays the New England Revolution tomorrow, a team that’s doing a little less well even though it’s been a long time since they’ve played a game like your team. How do you feel about this game? How important is it for your team to get back in action in front of the fans and to play games that mean a lot at the end of the season?
LC: You can’t go by the standings because, not long ago, they were winning the conference, so it’s still a very high-quality roster, and they’re dangerous in a lot of ways. Whether it’s the standings or their current health, I don’t put too much faith in it. Especially since I know the coach really well and he’s proven that he just likes winning titles. I know that internally, we just want to do what we must do in front of our fans, who have been very loyal to us all year, and give it back to them. We’re concerned about our opponents, even though we know they want to trap us and not necessarily play us, but we’re more focused on our own performance than on our opponents. But we’ve outlined our strengths and weaknesses, and we know they’re going to be formidable.
Q: With Ruan leaving and you guys bringing in two young right backs with admittedly different profiles, what’s your expectations for the right flanks and in the last stretch of the season? What do you think Dawid and Jaheele need to do personally in terms of improvements to get to that next level for in your eyes?
LC: Mostly, for Jaheele, what we’ve identified so far, is that he needs to learn how to defend the space behind his back and the alignment. He’s an incredible athlete and has the capacity to project himself forward nonstop and with a change of rhythm. He needs to get confident one on one, but his capacity to go forward is quite impressive. Besides Ruan being incredibly reliable defensively and his counterattack with space, we were also looking to get more combination and play inside our own half and little bit more connections in the last pass and last cross. We still have a lot to work on for everyone, but these are the areas that we think Dawid and Jaheele can help.
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