Goodbye Lucas Zelarayan, Hello Diego Rossi
Diego Rossi celebrating after winning the 2023 MLS Cup (Columbus Crew)
Another historic season for the Columbus Crew comes to an end. After winning their 3rd MLS Cup, there is plenty to reflect on. For starters, The Crew were the highest scoring team in the league this season under head coach Wilfried Nancy, a club first. Not only were the black and gold the highest scoring team, they were also arguably the most entertaining team to watch across the entire MLS. All of which they did, for the most part, without their star player.
The black and gold scored 82 goals in the regular season, a club record, the man of the show Cucho Hernández finished the regular season with 16 goals and 11 assists, which is quite impressive. The Colombian talisman was the star of the show for Columbus all season with his powerful strikes and magnificent skills. He showed his knack for goalscoring after somewhat of a lackluster 2022 season, not just for Cucho, but for the Columbus squad as a whole.
After 2 less than satisfactory seasons with Caleb Porter following the 2020 MLS Cup triumph, The Crew parted ways with the former boss and brought in a well known MLS name in Wilfried Nancy. Nancy came in after finishing second in the Eastern Conference with CF Montréal in the 2022 season. Nancy brought his staff and got to work in Columbus, and after the recent finish of the 2023 season, we know that bringing in Wilfried Nancy was one of the best decisions the Columbus Crew front office has made in a long time.
Nancy’s style of play is like none other, he likes his players to play very fluently. A beautiful type of play. Nancy was a big supporter of build up play and putting crosses into the box this season, and brought in multiple different players to help the attack.
For the first time, in 2023, MLS and Liga MX implemented a mid-season tournament for all Liga MX and MLS teams to compete in. Unsurprisingly, Leo Messi’s Inter Miami took the inaugural trophy, but that’s besides the point. On July 31st, 2023, one day before Columbus’ clash with Liga MX giant Club América, The Crew announced the transfer of Crew legend Lucas Zelarayan to Saudi club Al Fateh SC. This was heartbreaking for Crew fans, especially me.
Zelarayan was in Columbus for 3 years, during which he led The Crew to an MLS Cup and Campeones Cup title. Zelarayan was captain of the ship throughout his time in Columbus, and had a special link with striker Cucho during their time together in Columbus. The pair scored countless dazzling goals with threat every time they entered the attacking third, they were deadly. The two were best friends on and off the pitch, and brought love for the game to Columbus. The abrupt exit of Zelarayan left many Crew fans heartbroken. Many thought this was going to be the end of The Crew’s season given that their star player was leaving; however, this was not the case.
The Crew brought in Diego Rossi, another well known MLS name who played for LAFC from 2019-2021 then making his way to Europe to play for Fenerbahce in Turkey. Rossi was renowned for his goal scoring ability and #10 or attacking midfielder type play, essentially another Zelarayan. Crew fans were skeptical of Rossi at first given Zelarayan was just about the best player in club history. Rossi ended up earning his spot and much much more, by partnering with Cucho to bring a 3rd MLS Cup into Columbus, but Rossi wasn’t the only piece to the puzzle for Columbus this season. Julian Gressel was brought in from the Vancouver Whitecaps about 10 days before Rossi was signed.
Gressel was known for his wingback abilities, and his stunning crosses into the 18 yard box. Now, Julian Gressel seemed like a great addition to this Crew team at first, however he was not exactly perfect. In the past 2 years, The Crew had been struggling with defensive abilities, with their captain Jonathan Mensah leaving prior to the 2023 season, it looked like it was going to get even worse.
The Crew started off the season with MLS rookie Philip Quinton and 2nd year Milos Degenek as their two center backs and a rookie Patrick Schulte in goal. To be brutally honest, they were awful to start. So bad that Quinton and Degenek were both dropped. Steven Moreira and Rudy Camacho, who was brought in during the summer window from CF Montréal, filled in. They were much better.
Patrick Schulte gained experience throughout the season and ended up being one of the best goalkeepers in the league. Regardless, Julian Gressel was not exactly well known for his outstanding defensive efforts, rather his offensive crosses. Gressel was initially implemented immediately into the starting 11 and was doing just fine, until the MLS Cup Playoffs came around. In Columbus’ 4-2 loss away at Atlanta United in the second game of the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs, Gressel was probably the worst player on the field for Columbus, so bad that he was dropped for another MLS rookie in Mo Farsi in Columbus’ decisive 3rd game of the 1st round. Farsi never looked back. Farsi ended up starting all of Columbus’ 4 next playoff games including their clash against in-state rivals FC Cincinnati as well as MLS Cup against LAFC, and was one of the black and golds key players.
In saying all of this, Columbus’ season was one to remember, and quite remarkable to be honest. Losing undoubtedly one of their most important players in Lucas Zelarayan and bringing in Diego Rossi, who did not have very much time to fit in. The Crew brought in Julian Gressel and Rudy Camacho, who both played their part in bringing in Columbus’ 3rd MLS Cup in club history. But without a doubt, the most important addition to the Columbus squad was bringing in head coach Wilfried Nancy before the start of the 2023 season. Nancy fit in immediately, implementing his beautiful style of play to make the black and gold a magnificent goal scoring machine and the most entertaining squad in MLS. 2023 was a year for the Columbus Crew to remember forever.