CF Montréal have once again made a difficult start to the season, falling 5-0 to San Diego and 3-0 to Chicago in the opening two weeks.
While the Bleu-blanc-noir were 2-0 down when Toto Avilés was sent off early in the second half against San Diego, the Chicago defeat told a different story. The home side was reduced to ten men at the start of the second half while leading 1-0, yet rather than Montréal taking advantage, it was Chicago who dominated, adding two more late on to seal a 3-0 win.
The result, as damaging as it is, comes as little surprise. Montréal's off-season recruitment fell well short of the standard set by the average MLS side, and the opening two weeks have laid that bare.
In response, Collectif IMFC — a coalition of five of the club's supporters' groups — made their feelings known outside Stade Saputo with a banner reading: "Lettre de merde, Mercato de merde." Translated into English, it reads: "Sh*t letter, sh*t transfer window."
The message references a letter published by the club last year in the wake of poor results, in which they pledged to embark on a 'new chapter' and take concrete steps in the upcoming transfer windows.
Letter to the fans from Gabriel, Luca and Simone.#CFMTL pic.twitter.com/RrZ51mchjH
— CF Montréal (@cfmontreal) July 23, 2025
The letter, signed by president and CEO Gabriel Gervais alongside club owner Joey Saputo's sons Luca and Simone, was published on July 23, 2025, following a damaging run of form that saw the team lose 6-1 to Toronto, 4-1 to Inter Miami, 3-0 to New England, and 3-1 to Cincinnati — all at home — while also being knocked out of the Canadian Championship by CPL side Forge in the quarter-finals, also at home.
The club has been in a downward spiral ever since the 2022 season, when Wilfried Nancy led them to third in the Supporters' Shield standings — still the best regular season finish in the club's MLS history.
Much of the criticism from supporters has been directed at owner Joey Saputo, with the club consistently ranking among the lowest in MLS in terms of player salaries.
Since 2023, Montréal have finished 10th, 8th, and 13th in the Eastern Conference, reaching the Wild Card match in 2024 before falling on penalties to Atlanta United.
The Bleu-blanc-noir now face a crucial stretch of away fixtures, taking on the New York Red Bulls, Orlando City, FC Cincinnati, and the New England Revolution to close out a six-game road run, before returning to Stade Saputo to host Philadelphia on April 11.
