The Crew’s Wilfried Nancy is likely one of the finest coaches in MLS. That is the secure approach to put it. I’ve stated he is one of the best coach I’ve seen at any degree in any sport, and I will stick with it.
Nancy’s fashion calls for courageous gamers who purchase in, fully, to the system. They goal to own the ball, break down the protection in entrance of them and rating. After they lose the ball, they endeavor to get it again as rapidly as doable and rating. Neither the scoreboard nor the time clock dissuades them from these duties. They do not bunker. They go ahead.
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“That is the poison that I made a decision to drink, as a result of I prefer it,” Nancy stated earlier this week.
On the night of Could 28, Nancy’s group needed to come from behind − twice − to safe a degree in a 2-2 draw with Nashville within the new Crew Stadium. That is the best way it has been going for the Crew of late. They’re going to take a five-game winless streak (0-4-1) right into a monster sport towards Lionel Messi Inter Miami in Fort Lauderdale on Could 31.
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The Crew have suffered from defensive lapses − why is Nashville’s main scorer left open on the again publish? − and have conceded targets on set items. These miscues had been uncommon final yr, once they made it to the ultimate of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, gained Leagues Cup and set franchise information for targets and factors, amongst different issues (together with differential). These miscues had been extra frequent throughout Nancy’s first season, 2023, however they had been mitigated by the lethality of the Crew’s assault. By the point the playoffs rolled round, all the pieces was clicking and the Crew went on to win the 2023 MLS Cup.
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Different groups are actually conversant in the Crew’s fashion and are higher ready to counter it. That stated, a part of the bedrock of Nancy’s philosophy is that it would not matter a lot what different groups are doing if the Crew are executing. And he is proper. Throughout this interlude of a four-game winless streak, the Crew have dominated their opposition for lengthy stretches. The issue is the possession and attacking has not led to sufficient targets.
The Crew (7-2-7) aren’t in dangerous form: They’ve misplaced solely two of 16; they’re in fourth place within the East and fifth place within the league; there’s greater than half of the season but to play, and the Supporters’ Defend, which matches to the group with one of the best report, stays in play.
That stated, they’ve a scoring drawback which appears to be like acute once they play towards the league’s elite. Followers felt it as they watched the Crew lose to Miami in Cleveland and accept attracts towards Cincinnati (at residence) and Philadelphia (away). What followers felt is a painful pining for Cucho Hernandez, who was offered to Spanish group Actual Betis on the eve of the common season. Hernandez might have been one of the best participant within the league and he, together with Christian Ramirez (traded to the LA Galaxy) accounted for 27 of the Crew’s 72 targets final season.
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Attacker Daniel Gazdag, acquired in a money take care of Philadelphia final month, has but to fill these boots. He fills a Designated Participant slot. He has zero targets and 0 assists in eight appearances (six begins).
Nancy stated, “I attempt to combat folks (who inform) Daniel, ‘You’ve received to attain. You’ve received to attain.’ Go away him alone. He’s going to attain, sure, as a result of he has been doing that for a few years.”
Nancy stated, “What I do when a participant comes, he sits on the bench. He doesn’t begin. … That, I didn’t do with Daniel. … Now, he simply wants time. And I’ll give him the time. I absolutely belief his high quality. I absolutely belief within the particular person.”
And Nancy stated: “So, with plenty of respect and plenty of humility, we aren’t a standard group the place we deal with one man. I don’t consider in that.”
Actual Betis ahead Cucho Hernandez celebrates scoring through the Spanish league soccer match between Actual Betis and Sevilla FC at Benito Villamarin Stadium in Seville on March 30, 2025. (Picture by CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP) (Picture by CRISTINA QUICLER/AFP through Getty Photographs)
Nancy is constant on this: He likes the story his gamers are writing. There are issues that have to be cleaned up, however that’s so for each group, on a regular basis. The targets will come.
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Notice: Nancy’s groups, courting again to his time in Montreal, have been topic to spring swoons. His first Crew group went 1-4-2 throughout April-Could of 2023. His second Crew group went 0-2-5 in April-Could of 2024. Right here they’re once more, winless of their previous six.
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Nancy has earned some leeway right here. It might be that the Crew go all the way down to Florida and defeat Messiami behind two targets from Gazdag and two from Diego Rossi (who’s having a splendid season). Then, this complete narrative adjustments. Basic supervisor Issa Tall goes out and provides important reinforcements through the summer time switch window, which opens July 24, and the Crew go on to contend for trophies.
“For me, my focus just isn’t about in search of a No. 9 (striker), I wish to be clear with that,” Nancy stated. “This isn’t my focus. My focus is to be higher with my group, to convey a participant or just a few gamers to assist my group get higher. Easy as that.”
Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy watches his group towards Nashville SC within the second half throughout their MLS sport at Decrease.com Discipline on Could 28, 2025.
Perhaps the Crew can discover some end. Perhaps they will have the ability to create much more possibilities, though that is tough to fathom (they create so many as it’s). Perhaps they will handle to create various kinds of possibilities to raised facilitate the finishers. None of that is past Nancy’s genius.
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But when the Crew proceed to have issues with the elites (and non-elites) of the East, it can behoove them to do what Nancy says they don’t wish to do − and that’s to exit in the marketplace and discover a ahead with a $15-million-plus price ticket to regain a few of what they misplaced when Hernandez took his abilities to Seville.
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