New York City FC host CF Montréal on Wednesday night.
For this edition of 'The Away End' presented by Berkeley College & Rennert International, we spoke to Giuseppe Campanelli, a writer covering CF Montréal for KAN Football Club.
Hi Giuseppe, how long have you been covering CF Montréal?
I’ve been covering CF Montréal since 2022 and with KAN Football Club since 2023.
What’s been your highlight in that time?
The historic 2022 season. The team set several franchise and league records with one of the lowest payrolls in the league. They developed some great talents in Ismaël Koné, Alistair Johnston, and Djordje Mihailovic who made some big money moves to Europe.
How do you evaluate the team’s 2023 season?
The team brought in several new players to strengthen the offense and a new coach. The team had a better start on the road compared to last year, but have had difficulty recently winning games in which they led. They’ve shown promise, but have suffered with injuries. I think they need more time to show their true potential.
What are your expectations for the team this season?
Make the playoffs, but also perform better on the road in comparison to last season.
What do you think will be the deciding factor in Wednesday’s game?
CF Montréal have struggled defensively thus far this season. With Joel Waterman on international duty with Canada at Copa América, it’s important the Montréal defense stay focused and compact without their leader present in the middle of the defense.
For any fans that might be in Montréal for a game in the near future are there any spots you’d suggest they check out?
There aren’t many great food options near the stadium, but if you’re looking to try some famous Québec poutine, I recommend La Banquise. Otherwise, downtown Montréal is always a great place for a stroll.
