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Columbus Crew’s Leagues Cup Final Mentality Influenced by Champions Cup

Vaseline August 26, 2024

There is an air of confidence surrounding the Crew ahead of Sunday’s Leagues Cup final against Los Angeles FC. And with Columbus’ experience in tournament finals over the past year, the team say that feeling is well-founded.

“We are prepared for everything,” midfielder Mo Farsi said. “We have played some important games, whether it is in Mexico or here. So mentally we are in a good position. … We have had some difficult games, so that has helped us a lot on our way.”

The Crew had their first taste of a finals appearance under the Wilfried Nancy era in December when they hosted and defeated Los Angeles FC in the MLS Cup final. The Crew continued their success in the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup, where they reached the final against CF Pachuca.

In a one-game final at Pachuca’s home stadium, Estadio Hidalgo in Mexico, the Crew suffered their worst performance of the season, losing 3-0. It was later revealed that more than half of the Columbus players and the entire coaching staff had food poisoning.

More: What is the profit if Columbus Crew beats Los Angeles FC and wins the Leagues Cup?

Farsi was one of the players affected, saying he had been suffering from symptoms before starting the match at right back. More than two months later, the match still rankles with Farsi, but he is choosing to look ahead to the new title challenge.

“What happened in Mexico is unfortunate,” Farsi said. “I think for me it was unfair. The good thing about football is that you always have the opportunity to take revenge. Not revenge against the same team, but revenge for yourself.”

Pachuca were eliminated in the Leagues Cup in the round of 16 by Tigres, making the 2025 Champions Cup the Crew’s next chance for revenge.

Now it seems that a Leagues Cup trophy will provide sufficient compensation for what the Crew missed out on in Pachuca.

“I think we were really distracted by the circumstances of what was going on,” Crew forward Christian Ramirez said. “We weren’t really living in the moment, we were a little distracted in that sense. But I think being able to be home on Sunday, being with our families, having a normal schedule and being able to prepare, it’ll definitely be nice to have it here.”

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