CFMTL Media

Pregame – MTL v NE

Montreal hosts the league leaders at Stade Saputo

CF Montréal will host the New England Revolution, Wednesday night at Stade Saputo, with just eight games remaining in the season. Tickets are still available here.

New England currently leads the MLS with 62 points, becoming the only team to have booked its ticket to the MLS Cup playoffs until now. Montreal, on its end, is in the playoff picture out East, in seventh. Head coach Bruce Arena’s men were able to take the first meeting between these two clubs, 2-1 at Gillette Stadium in late July.

“A lot of credit goes to their head coach, Bruce Arena,” said head coach Wilfried Nancy. He found a way and the right words to bring this team to another level. After, they also added three attacking players and they can score at any moment. If it’s not one of them, it’s the other. They like to combine and play together. They’re consistent. Sometimes when they aren’t as dominant, they still find ways to score and create chances.”

New England’s offensive trio of Gustavo Bou, Adam Buksa and Carles Gil has been one of the league’s best and most consistent. Buksa and Bou both lead the team with 12 goals apiece, while Gil leads the league with 16 assists, although Djordje Mihailovic trails behind in second with 11.

The task at hand won’t be an easy one for Wilfried Nancy’s men, as New England has only lost once in its last 15 games.

“I’m not an underdog,” said head coach Wilfried Nancy. “This is not my way of thinking. We know they have quality, but the game starts at 0-0. We want to do well against them because they’re the best team in the league. They’re coming here to beat us, but our objective is to beat them as well.”

Injury update

Head coach Wilfried Nancy will not be able to count on the services of Ahmed Hamdi this Wednesday or on Saturday against Atlanta United, after the midfielder suffered a small injury to his adductor in the game against Halifax.

“Hamdi felt a small pain on his abductor after the game against Halifax. For now, we’re evaluating whether or not he’ll be missing for a long or short period of time. We’ll have more news concerning Hamdi soon.”