New York City FC will take on CF Montréal on Decision Day.
For this edition of 'The Away End' presented by Berkeley College & Rennert International, we spoke to Canadian journalist Olivier Tremblay.
Hi Olivier, thanks so much for speaking with us, how long have you been covering/following CF Montréal
I started working in journalism around 2011-2012, right as the Impact was about to enter MLS. So it’s been 13 years on and off now, depending on just how many pots I’m stirring at once with these old bones.
What's been your highlight during that time?
That’s an easy one: following the team around Mexico and Costa Rica in 2015 as they reached the CONCACAF Champions League (RIP) finals. Dom Oduro was clean through and it was DOGSO, by the way. IYKYK.
How would you evaluate the team's season so far?
I don’t mean to be a cynic – ok, maybe I do – but it feels like par for the course for this club. There’s ALWAYS some bizarre stuff going on, and this was no different. Many a supporter expected Laurent Courtois to bring Nancyball 2.0 to life, and, well, it didn’t quite turn out that way. I was quite skeptical of their chances midway through when they started trading and selling players left and right after sporting director Olivier Renard left the club, but lo and behold, they’ve somewhat turned it around and enter Decision Day with their fate firmly in their own hands. Caden Clark’s been an inspired signing (sorry, NYCFC fans), Tom Pearce’s left foot has provided a bit of magic, and Josef’s found form again. I’ll give it a passing grade, I guess.
If Montréal do make the playoffs, what are your expectations for them?
Given their recent resurgence, I feel like it might be a disappointment if they lose the wild card and don’t make the playoffs proper. My old soul would enjoy a DC United-Montreal matchup in Washington like in 2016, when they had a chance to host the tie with a win on the last day of the regular season, but got killed by the Revs as Mauro Biello angered the fanbase by resting a bunch of key guys, so confident was he that they could go to D.C. and walk all over them – which they promptly did. I feel like that game should hold a more significant spot in Montreal Impact lore. Anyway. If they make it past the wild card game, it’s Inter Miami, and we all know the ending to that film.
What do you think will be the decisive factor in Saturday's game?
How both teams start the game. From watching the highlights it feels like New York City has started matches really well of late, and having to fight back against a quality side like that might be a bridge too far for Montreal with the pressure of Decision Day. And we’re back from an international break, so who knows how that comes into play. And then you’ve got young Nathan Saliba in midfield who’s suspended, which is a blow. All that being said, I do expect Montreal to come out flying after some sort of heated pregame speech. If you’ve read Caden Clark’s quotes from this week, you know what I’m saying.
And finally, for any fans thinking of making the trip to Montréal are there any particular attractions you’d suggest they check out?
It should be a gorgeous day out, so I beg all visitors not to go indoors. I live in the Sud-Ouest neighbourhood, so I’ll just accept my enormous bias: stop by Marché Atwater (Lionel-Groulx metro station), grab some food and drink, and enjoy your carefully chosen local delicacies somewhere along the banks of nearby Canal Lachine. The green line of the metro will take you to the stadium. Better yet, if you feel a bit adventurous, add the Bixi bikeshare to your commute. A cycling path along the canal will get you to Old Montreal, where you can drop your bike off and hop on the metro after a nice walk on the cobbles.
