Hudson River Blue looked at what’s going on with CF Montréal, New York City FC‘s opponent in tomorrow’s matchday. We learned more about how this lean, low-budget team that looks nothing like the squad that NYCFC defeated last year in the Eastern Conference Semifinalsrecently posted shutout wins over Nashville SC and Minnesota United, and are once again in the playoff picture on the back of an enviable home record of seven wins, zero draws, and one loss: Here is your NYCFC vs Montréal preview.
1. Head coach Hernán Losada is making it work
Pundits were surprised when DC United fired Hernán Losada last April. The young, highly-regarded coach was in charge of DC for just a little over a year, but the front office decided to pull the plug on the 41-year-old. United hired Wayne Rooney in July, but then CF Montréal snatched up Losada just 15 days after Wilfried Nancy left to take over Columbus Crew. The Argentine is off to a surprising start in Montréal, and getting strong performances from a team that lost many of their better players in the offseason. Montréal, which have the smallest payroll in MLS, now sit in eighth place — one spot above Rooney’s DC United.
Losadaball is opportunistic: Solid defense, an attack that creates chances. No need to sweat possession or stringing together beautiful passes as long as you get the job the done.
