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Wilfried Nancy considers Columbus Crew 'very competitive' for 2025 without Cucho Hernandez
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- Wilfried Nancy considers Columbus Crew 'very competitive' for 2025 without Cucho Hernandez
The Crew have waited 111 days to return to the field since their disappointing elimination from the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs.
On Nov. 3, Columbus was knocked out of the first round of the postseason by the New York Red Bulls 2-0 in a best-of-three series. The Crew, who were the reigning 2023 MLS Cup champions, lost Game 2 5-4 in penalty kicks.
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"To be honest, I haven't watched the game," Crew coach Wilfried Nancy . "I'm going to talk with the players, not about the performance, more about what we can learn from that."
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A majority of the roster has returned looking for redemption, but Columbus lost two crucial offensive threats, Cucho Hernandez and Christian Ramirez.
Hernandez was Columbus' leading scorer for the 2024 regular season with 19 goals, adding 14 assists. It was announced less than a month before the start of the season that Hernandez was being transferred to La Liga's Real Betis on Feb. 3.
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Two days later, Ramirez was traded to the 2024 MLS Cup champions Los Angeles Galaxy for up to $500,000 in general allocation money. Ramirez contributed 8 goals and 6 assists last season.
Losing Hernandez and Ramirez is expected to cause a dip in the Crew's offensive production just one season after they broke the club record for regular-season goals with 72.
Columbus Crew forward Christian Ramirez (17) passes a ball to forward Cucho Hernandez (9) beside New York Red Bulls defender Sean Nealis (15) during the first half of the MLS Cup Playoffs first round game at Lower.com Field in Columbus on Oct. 29.
Nancy said he has no choice but to distance himself from thinking about the club's losses during the offseason, to ensure the best mentality for the team.
"We still have a team, a very competitive team," Nancy said. "... So, we'll see in the future, but it hasn't changed. I cannot tell my players, if I want them to compete ... to play the competition just to play. The idea is to go as far as possible."
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Here's what to know about the Columbus Crew ahead of their 2025 season opener vs Chicago Fire.
Which attackers are replacing Cucho Hernandez , Christian Ramirez in starting lineup?
The Crew lists four players as forwards. However, Max Arfsten is one of those players and played primarily at left wingback under Nancy last season.
Nancy's been open about needing to bring in another forward, but for now, players Jacen Russell-Rowe and Aziel Jackson can take advantage of the open spots and bring a "freshness" to the frontline Nancy has been asking for.
More: What Columbus Crew's roster looks like without Cucho Hernández, Christian Ramirez
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"Ramirez, last year he was not supposed to play a lot of games, but he showed that he was important for us," Nancy said. "So, this year is going to be another player. ... The plan is always to try to coach in the present moment."
Diego Rossi is expected to be Columbus' main offensive threat without Hernandez and Ramirez.
Scoring 12 regular-season goals, which was second on the team behind Hernandez, Rossi got rolling last season when Hernandez was sidelined with a back injury. Rossi recorded 4 goals during that 3-game stretch.
August 21, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Crew forward Diego Rossi (10) celebrates after his first goal scored against the Philadelphia Union during a semifinal Leagues Cup match at Lower.com Field on Wednesday
When is Columbus Crew GM Issa Tall going to add more players?
The Crew have around nine weeks before the current MLS transfer window closes, and then they'll have to wait until July to add more players during the summer transfer window.
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But as the MLS season gets going, and other leagues' windows close, the more difficult adding anyone this window becomes.
"It takes time," Crew general manager Issa Tall said. "Whether it's an international player coming, and you have the visa process and all these things, or even a domestic player who you bring in needs to adapt to the way we play, and that takes time as well. But that being said, we know there's a need, for sure, but there's no panic."
The only player Columbus has added this offseason is midfield veteran Lassi Lappalainen.
Along with the Crew's need at forward, Tall has stated that the club is looking for more depth at center midfield and center back.
Jul 6, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew general manager Issa Tall greets players on the field following the MLS soccer match at Lower.com Field. The Crew won 4-0.
How did Columbus Crew perform during 2025 preseason?
Since Nancy took over in 2023, the Crew's preseason games have been played behind closed doors, with the results remaining unknown to the public.
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"For me, the preseason is a tool to work on certain things," Nancy said. "So, we use the preseason games to try things, to develop certain chemistry. So, the results are not important. Yes, for our ego, this is good when we win, but at the end of the day, this is not the most important. So, in terms of performance, it was really good what we did."
Nancy confirmed that the Crew had one preseason game canceled due to a wildfire near Columbus' first training camp location in Chula Vista, Calif. at the end of January. Beyond that, he didn't offer much, although he did say this year was the Crew's "best preseason" in his three years with the club.
Crew coach Wilfried Nancy
Every player on the roster going into the Chicago game played under Nancy for at least half a season, with Lappalainen being on Nancy's CF Montreal team from 2021-22.
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This allowed for training camp to be about evolving Columbus' playing style and solidifying roles in the lineup.
"Just improving (was the focus of preseason)," Crew captain Darlington Nagbe said. "Just being sharper, being cleaner in execution. So, working on all the little details, and then interchanging pieces. I think everyone understanding each person's role, I think that's what we're really seeing this year, attackers understanding what the defenders are doing, and vice versa."
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew opens 2025 MLS season in third year with Wilfried Nancy
