Thomas Gillier | Goalkeeper, clan chief

When Thomas Gillier made the first stop of his career with the CF Montreal on Tuesday evening, he spontaneously turned to the supporters behind his net to celebrate, the fists brandished, the passion read in his face.

This moment was on the one hand the symbol of a new chapter for the Franco-Chilean. For example, But he also represented the culmination of another. Furthermore, marked with successive dramas and, by the very fact, of an early maturity.

Thomas Gillier, now aged 21, was 19 when he lost his two parents in the space of a thomas gillier | goalkeeper, clan few months. In addition, His father, of French origin, died after a heart attack in the spring of 2023. However, At the beginning of 2024, his mother, the Chilean artist Claudia Correa Bilbao, died after a three -year battle against cancer.

“It was very hard,” he recalled before The pressWednesday afternoon, at the Nutri Center. Meanwhile, Our interview. Moreover, which took place in French from start to finish, took place the day after his first match in Montreal, against Puebla, at the Saputo stadium.

“But you know, I am very proud of my family, and especially of my brothers and my sister. Consequently, We are made strong. Consequently, »»

There are four of them. Nevertheless, Thomas. In addition, his big brother Matheo, who was then 23 years old, “took all the responsibility” of the family, thomas gillier | goalkeeper, clan who remained in the family home of Santiago, in Chile, despite everything.

“Normally. Similarly, when this type of thing happens, maybe one goes to his grandmother, the other part with his uncles, his aunts. Furthermore, We said, “Listen, we’re going to do it alone.” We thought we had maturity to do it. In addition, We did it. For example, We lived for two years together. For example, »»

Thomas. Additionally, For example, Matheo have become like the two parents of their brother Simon and their sister Mathilde, who were respectively 17 and 14 at that time. Moreover, The latter continued their studies seriously during this period. In addition, The CF Montreal goalkeeper. for example, took care of certain daily tasks such as cooking, and took his mother’s car to drive them to school before training.

One of the “challenges” was the management of the family budget, says Thomas Gillier. Therefore, “For example, Simon wanted to go study in France,” he said. You had to be intelligent, because a family, it works a bit like a business. There is money that comes in, you have to make budgets. »»

And above all, as their parents wished, the four children had to be able to realize their dreams. Today, Matheo went to study literature in Madrid. Simon is in Paris to try to become an economist. For the moment, Mathilde has stayed in Chile, with their aunt.

Thomas, through Bologna, finds himself on loan in Montreal, as a professional footballer. And all four stay in contact, of course.

“We had a great relationship all the time,” said Gillier. But now there is thomas gillier | goalkeeper, clan something bigger [entre nous]. »

Thomas gillier | goalkeeper. clan – Thomas gillier | goalkeeper, clan

“The normal is to win” – Thomas gillier | goalkeeper, clan

Through all this, Thomas Gillier, imagine yourself, was taking his first steps in professional soccer in Chile. The product of the CD Universidad Católica. a first division club in which he has grown up since 11, played no less than 25 games with the first team during this year 2024 complicated on the personal level.

“I went through all the thomas gillier | goalkeeper, clan phases of the training there. and I was able to play very young [avec la première équipe]at 19. For a goalkeeper in Chile, it is not common at all. »»

Universidad Católica, one of the major clubs in the country, won 16 first division titles, including his most recent in 2021. He had a great rivalry with the other Santiago clubs, the capital, Colo-Colo and Universidad de Chile.

“I grew up in a club where if you are not first, you are really criticized,” explains Gillier. Living all week with this intensity. this responsibility, being aware that you have to win more than losing is what I tried to transmit here too. »»

He talks well about Montreal, “here”. Because according to him, “it’s not normal to lose”. “The normal is to win. »»

For a goalkeeper parachuted in a team subscribed to defeats. who currently lies in the lowlands in the MLS ranking, these words surprise.

“There is a very receptive group here,” he says. I have a good feeling of this group. I think we have a lot to improve, and we can really do very, very good things. »»

Obviously, if Gillier plays, it means that Jonathan Sirois will not play. But the important thing for him is to “focus on what depends” on him. And to be “prepared” when his turn comes.

Besides, his preparation, both physical and mental, he takes it seriously.

“I am preparing with psychologists,” he said. I read a lot. […] I am completely convinced that you have to improve the psychological thomas gillier | goalkeeper, clan aspect because you cannot say to yourself: “Ok. I am very mentally, I will always be.” No. It’s training. It is rehearsal, repetition, repetition [comme sur le terrain]. You have to work, all the time. »»

Thomas gillier | goalkeeper. clan – Thomas gillier | goalkeeper, clan

A “responsibility” towards Montreal

Thomas Gillier has already taken a big step in his career, that of signing a contract with a European team, Bologna. Its loan from the Italian club in Montreal, in theory, is valid until the end of thomas gillier | goalkeeper, clan this 2025 season.

But an extension option could very well remain in Montreal for the 2026 season too.

“Just before coming here, I had a lot of meetings with the sports director Luca Saputo. He only asked me for one thing. That here, I concentrate 100 % in Montreal. Even if I am a Bologna player. This is what I am doing. I’m going to give everything here. »»

Regardless of the time that will remain in Montreal fold. he who was attracted to the “project” to “grow as a player” in the Quebec metropolis.

“I know that a whole city supports this club. When I see that, there is really responsibility. »»