FC Montreal will begin its first season in USL on March 28 at Olympic Stadium against FC Toronto II.
Before playing this historic match, the team will undertake the second phase of its winter preparation on Monday.
The group was on break this week, following a first week of training from a four week preparatory program, but reconvened on Saturday in Ile Bizard for a snowshoe race organized by the technical staff.
Regular training will resume on Monday morning. The intensity level will increase gradually, up until the opening game, but without overworking the players.
“We want the players to be ready for the start of the season, but they must be fresh physically and mentally,” says FC Montreal head coach Philippe Eullaffroy. “There is certainly an excitement for the game against Toronto, but we have to be careful not to get too excited. We can’t let that candle burn out too early.”
The group has played three preseason games so far against Quebec universities (2-0-1) and will play five more matches before it kicks off the season, including two against teams in the NASL, Tampa Bay and Ottawa.
During winter preparation, as an excuse to bond away from the pitch, the U23s have climbed Mont Tremblant over the last few years, which has a height of about 875 metres. This winter, with the start of a more difficult season and a greater challenge, players will be taking to Mount Washington, New Hampshire (2,000 metres).
FC Montreal’s roster should be completed soon. The group will be composed of 75% Quebecers and entirely of players from the club’s Academy. Many players from the first team will strengthen the group at every game with experience and quality.
The average age will be about 20 years old, compared to an average of about 27 for the rest of the league - a significant difference.
"This will be a new championship, a new experience and a level of play that no player has experienced in the past. It is expected that we will suffer at first,” added Eullaffroy. “We will need a period of adaptation of a few months. We must be patient.”
The objective for FC Montreal will be to win, all while developing players for the next level as this is the final step before moving to MLS.
“To impress the first team’s staff, the players will be forced to play well and play to win.”
FC Montreal might have a different name and logo, but the entire squad will defend the bleu-blanc-noir colours with pride.b.
