If she Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid, the Madonnina Derbybetween AC Milan and Inter, or the Manchester derby Between United and City in football are the traditional encounters between two teams from the same city, region or country.

Relatively new at the club, CF Montreal head coach Hernán Losada lives and embraces the Montreal-Toronto rivalry.

Every derby has its story, Losada recalled. History of the cities, history of what happened before. Every derby is special for us, as an organisation, as a club, but above all for the fans. […] In the end it’s three points, but you feel like it’s a lot more than three points. It’s special and very enjoyable, whether you’re a football player or a coach. It gives you motivation and energy.

” You know you can’t disappoint your fans in a game like this. It’s nice to be alive and take part in a derby like this. »

Of course, all rivalries are more fun when you experience them on the winning side. And on Saturday, CF Montreal will have an opportunity to maintain that perspective by welcoming the Torontonians who were robbed of their fans after some excesses on Tuesday night.

Two games in five days is a lot in football, regardless of the opponent. Especially if it fits into a schedule of 8 games in 29 days or, if you prefer, two games a week over four weeks.

On Thursday, Canada Soccer confirmed the announcement that the semi-finals of the Canadian Championship between CF and Forge Fc will be played at Saputo Stadium on Wednesday 24 May.

The Montreal team will tour the Northeast in eight games, three in Montreal and five on opposing courts.

Hernan Losada lives and gently denounces what all MLS coaches live and highlight every year.

“I’m a bit disappointed with the schedule,” admitted Losada. I think that’s not normal. Having to play two games a week for three or four weeks is too much. Honestly, that’s too much.

It will be important for the coaching group to manage the staff well during this long month.

It’s impossible to play every game with the same team. It is important to ensure a good rotation, but also to play with good playerssaid Losada, who suggests that a player who has a good streak can stay in the lineup even when tired and can be more effective than a player who is unwilling to return.

The trainer is also convinced that not everyone expends the same amount of energy.

As a central defender, especially when playing in threes or fives, the effort is much less than with a striker, a defensive midfielder or a player playing box-to-box. [un milieu relayeur, qui couvre beaucoup de terrain].

According to the manager during his media briefing on Thursday, we can expect defender Gabriele Corbo to play a third game in a row. The Bleu-blanc-noir will be without the suspended centre-back Joel Waterman.

As for the rest of the training, you have to wait until the days of recovery and return to training are over.