U23 squad takes on Ottawa South United in season opener
The Club’s reserve team will begin its season in the PLSQ (Première Ligue de soccer du Québec) this Saturday against Ottawa South United at 2pm on the road, at Quinn’s Pointe Field. It’s the team’s first game in PLSQ since they announced they were to join the league at the end of 2021.
Ottawa South United will be looking to bounce back after a 6-0 trouncing at the hands of CS Saint-Laurent in their opening game of the year last weekend.
The reserve will be led by long time Academy coach Nicolas Gagnon.
“We can’t wait,” said the head coach of the reserve team Nicolas Gagnon. “There are some players in this team that haven’t played a competitive game with three points since the beginning of the pandemic. We’ve had four months of preseason, it’s enormous. You could really feel the excitement at training this week.”
The reserve team will be made up of some of the older Academy players looking to take the next step in their careers, and players with pro contracts looking to earn more playing time.
“The reserve team’s objective is to keep developing some of the Academy’s older players, that are knocking on the first team’s door,” explained Academy director Patrick Leduc. “But it’s also important to give playing time to players that already have a pro contract, that are looking for rhythm or to come back from an injury.”
Boasting a young side, Nicolas Gagnon’s men will be taking on teams in PLSQ, a semi-pro league, with older players that have more experience. It’s exactly what the team is looking for to bring its players to the next level.
“It’s exactly what we’re looking for: a tactical and physical challenge to bring these players to the next level in their careers,” explained Leduc.
“We need to focus on the process,” added Gagnon. Whatever is going to get us results, in terms of progression but also in the standings. It’s competition at the service of formation. We want to use this competition to really develop our players.”
CF Montréal’s reserve team will be at Centre Nutrilait on Saturday May 21st, for their first home game of the season, where they’ll host CS St-Hubert 4pm.
