Ismaël Koné is ready to come and lend a hand to CF Montreal
The Montreal eleven will need everyone for this streak that begins on Saturday at Saputo Stadium against Nashville SC. Newcomer Ismaël Koné is ready to help out.
Put under contract last August 13, Koné is still in the club environment from the camp in Florida, while he participated as a guest player. He believes his patience is about to pay off.
What motivated me to be patient is that the staff of CF Montreal allowed me to progress, said the midfielder by videoconference. Even though I wasn’t sure I would get a professional contract – even going to Miami – I kept pushing. I learned a lot on and off the pitch. It was the « staff » who made me want to stay here.
The 19-year-old from Ivory Coast is currently training with the club’s Under-23s, where his participation has been limited due to a slight knee injury. He is hopeful that the next leg of the first team’s schedule will allow him to take his first steps in MLS.
I’m always told to be ready cause it can happen fast
, noted the one who would not mind changing position in order to be able to be included in the formation of 18 players, a bit like a Mathieu Choinière, trained as a midfielder, but used on the wings with the first team.
I wouldn’t mind moving. I haven’t had a choice since the start of my short career. Playing on the sides or in front doesn’t create a problem for me: I was trained as a left winger.
Choinière is also full of praise for his young teammate. He also believes that he would be ready to make the jump to CF Montreal.
I would say it could create a surprise effect, he said of Koné. We see him in training: his actions surprise everyone. It could be a hidden card. The whole group is counting on him. As soon as he gets his chance, hopefully soon he’ll wow everyone. We trust him.
Ismaël is a very good player, he added. He has good dribbling skills. I would see it in the front, whether on the fenders or in the center. But he is very strong one on one. He is a player who can drop the opponent.
As for the upcoming streak, which will see CF Montreal take on Orlando City, the Columbus Crew and the New England Revolution, Choinière doesn’t believe it will define the club’s season.
I don’t think so, he said when asked if the position of the team coming out of that streak will determine where they are in the Eastern Conference. We start it like any other game. We are ready for these matches. We just can’t wait for them to resume.
It’s a great challenge. We will play against very good teams. We prepare as best as possible, we work very hard in training to get back to physical level and prepare to face these clubs.
At 31 points, CF Montreal (8-7-7) is in 6th place with very little leeway for the MLS playoff games. DC United, which occupies the 7th and last place giving access to the playoffs, is only one point behind.
The eleven from Montreal will face six opponents from his section during this difficult part of the calendar.
