TACTICAL ANALYSIS: Galindo's keys to Whitecaps vs. CF Montreal in CanChamp FINAL
The previous two Canadian champions square off this Wednesday at BC Place when the Vancouver Whitecaps welcome CF Montreal to town in the Canadian Championship final.
The two sides have already met this season, with Vancouver crushing 10-man Montreal 5-0 on April 1. But that was a very different Montreal side two months ago, which is what makes this such a tantalizing final.
Ahead of the game, here's one key player to watch for each side and a key to victory for either team.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Julian Gressel (Vancouver Whitecaps)
No Whitecaps player has more expected assists (0.32) and xGBuildup (0.66) than Julian Gressel this season. Suffice it to say that Gressel is the dangerman for Vancouver in possession.
Even on set pieces, Gressel's deliveries have been key. The Whitecaps have produced 0.32 expected goals per 90 off set pieces, while Montreal have conceded 0.33 xG per 90 in similar situations. That could make or break this final.
But the former MLS Rookie of the Year is just as lethal off the ball. Gressel often helps cover the right half space for the Whitecaps, as evidenced by the number of pressures he attempts in those channels.
That's key because the majority of Montreal's attacks – 37 per cent, to be exact – are generated down that flank, according to WhoScored. Therefore, it's imperative that Gressel remains active off the ball.
Mathieu Choiniere (CF Montreal)
Mathieu Choiniere's statistical radar is one of the most unique in MLS. He has a high number of pressures, chances created, plus passes and touches in the box. Talk about completeness.
Mathieu Choiniere could probably run a marathon with a ball at his feet.
— Peter Galindo (@GalindoPW) May 3, 2023
That's how tireless he's been for #CFMTL. #CanMNT pic.twitter.com/2Mah2BJZul
Choiniere still leads all Montreal players in combined goals and assists (4) along with key passes (18) in MLS, despite the likes of Chinonso Offor contributing more significantly as of late.
Those patented late runs into the box have led to the vast majority of Choiniere's opportunities, and there's no reason why that shouldn't continue on Wednesday.
KEYS TO VICTORY
Vancouver Whitecaps: The high press
As discussed before the semifinals, Montreal does have one major weakness: conceding shots after an opponent presses them high.
That still hasn't changed. Montreal is conceding 3.19 high-press shots per 90 this season, and the Whitecaps will be salivating at that statistic.
Vancouver rank in the 99th percentile among all teams in StatsBomb's database in high-press shots (4.44). In layman's terms, if they're able to recover possession in the attacking third, that'll more than likely lead to a shot.
Therefore, if the Whitecaps can shut down the supply from Montreal's centre-backs and midfielders to the No. 10s, they should be able to wreak havoc.
CF Montreal: Exploit the flanks
Following Pacific FC's loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps in the semifinals on May 24, coach James Merriman was asked about what his team could’ve done differently to expose the Whitecaps.
His answer could end up being the blueprint for Montreal.
"I think (Vancouver) is very, very effective in transition – especially centrally – when they win the ball, so it can be difficult to play in those spaces,” Merriman explained post-match. “We needed to attack the wide spaces quicker.”
With a large chunk of Vancouver’s key players starting over the weekend against Sporting KC at home, the visitors managed to target the flanks early.
Sporting routinely cycled and switched the ball to get it behind Vancouver on the wings. They accomplished that goal, albeit without the necessary finishing.
Montreal’s wingbacks have become far more involved in the attack in recent games. Ariel Lassiter is one of the team’s leaders in chance creation, while Aaron Herrera is rapidly rising up that chart as well. Here's Sunusi doing his thing:
Notre premier but de la soirée ⚽
— CF Montréal (@cfmontreal) June 1, 2023
Sunusi tucks it in for our first of the night!#CFMTL pic.twitter.com/Dd0KI34GRd
And here's Herrera:
Both sequences involved Montreal incisively attacking those wide spaces. If they bring that same diligence on Wednesday, that will cause problems for the Whitecaps.
The 2023 Canadian Championship FINAL kicks off on OneSoccer on Wednesday, June 7 beginning with our pre-show coverage at 6:30PM PT / 9:30PM ET ahead of kick-off between the Vancouver Whitecaps and CF Montreal. Subscribe now for access to unprecedented Canadian soccer coverage.
