Joey Saputo admits to having probably made a mistake by distancing himself from CF Montréal

2. The culture of the CF Montréal today is not the same as it was when he was here and helping the club (Impact) grow to the highest level in North America.

“It breaks my heart. I see a big difference between where the club was before and where it is now.” – Joey Saputo

3. In 2012, the Impact played games against Bologna and was almost at the same level. If the CF Montréal were to face Bologna’s first team today, it would be a massacre. The CF Montréal would have no chance. These are not Tony’s words, but Joey’s.

4. The difference between Bologna and Montréal is that Joey allows himself to be around the team. He has a dialogue with the coach.

“I don’t tell him who to play and who not to play, but I can give him some opinions […] in Montréal, I’m seen as the guy who puts his nose in the kitchen, who wants to influence the coach. How I’m seen in Bologna and how I’m seen with the CF Montréal, it’s completely different.” – Joey Saputo

5. Many people have criticized him for spending more time in Bologna than in Montréal… for spending more money in Bologna than in Montréal. Why is he acting this way?

“Because in Bologna, it’s appreciated. In Montréal, it’s not appreciated, what we do. In Bologna, they let me work, they let our club work.” – Joey Saputo

6. Joey Saputo claims to be spending as much money as before on the CF Montréal. He loses $20 million in annual operating costs.

7. The Montréal market is a small limited market (notably in terms of sponsorships) where he has to sell low-priced tickets to hope to fill the Stade Saputo.

He didn’t mention the weakness of the Canadian dollar, but he could have.

8. The club has the mindset of developing young players and not spending too much on stars because Joey doesn’t want to lose even more money annually. He asks the fans to accept the club’s strategy and support it. Otherwise – and he doesn’t want it to come to this -, but it will be bye-bye.

What do we take away from this?
Some fans or media members will see this interview as the beginning of a reflection that will inevitably lead to the sale of the concession.

The owner is detached… he’s dumping on us…

I respect their reading and opinion, but that’s not how I perceive it.

Yes, Joey Saputo seems sad… yes, he seems to have some regrets…

But he mostly shows that he still cares about Montréal. He took the time to explain why he distanced himself from the club, and sincerely, we can understand why he acted that way. He’s emotional, and when you’re constantly being criticized, you sometimes want to just move away from the heat.

By listening to this interview – and of course, Tony Marinaro’s translation -, we better understand why he’s not investing in the Stade Saputo and why he’s not taking out his checkbook to bring in big names to Montréal.

But we can also think that Joey is thinking about how to rebuild bridges with his first city.

Maybe it’s time for Joey to end his (too long) exile from Quebec and come back to give love to his first club.

I know, not everything has been perfect with Joey. Not even close…

But not everything has been catastrophic either.

Montréal is lucky to have a club in the MLS, and if Joey ever thinks about making a comeback in a more active way around the club, I think it will be good news, not bad. Especially since his two sons are making many of the soccer decisions right now.

There aren’t 10,000 potential owners for a soccer club of this magnitude in Montréal.

If one day, Joey wants to come back, explain himself, apologize, and extend his hand again to the fans, I hope they will be receptive and accept his hand. Because in the end, we would all benefit from it.

We understand that it will pass or break over the next few years. The status quo won’t last another 10, 15 years. And any important and strategic decision will come from Joey (and Lino Jr).

Joey realizes he probably made a mistake by distancing himself from Montréal; it’s time to fix that mistake. And I’m talking to Joey as much as to the club’s fans…

Be careful what you wish for. Do you prefer an owner who’s too emotional at times or an absent owner?

There’s no businessman who likes to lose money… especially not when being constantly criticized by the people you’re trying to please by spending millions of dollars. Losing money with the CF Montréal is okay – many soccer clubs lose money around the world -, but I admit that at least you have to enjoy the adventure. You have to recognize the gestures made and the risks taken by the only possible owner for a soccer club of this magnitude in Montréal…

At this point, I wonder what we would say/do if Joey Saputo were to take back the presidency instead of Gabriel Gervais. How would it be perceived?