Even if he does not win the MLS Cup on Saturday, Wilfried Nancy will have had a successful first season at the helm of the Columbus Crew. The former head coach of CF Montreal is happy with his new team, which has precise direction.
From the end of the preparatory meetings, the Frenchman knew that his club had what it took to win top honors. The Ohio team went from eighth to third in the Eastern Conference in 2023. The Nancy effect was felt quickly and the 46-year-old fell under the spell.
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“I’m grateful to work for an organization that is clear, but we also want to do it with the people in place and with our players, because you know I can’t do anything without them. Yes, I have a vision like every coach, but in the end, it is the players on the field who try to write history,” he said at a press conference on Friday.
“I am happy in this city, with the fans who make us experience emotions. I believe this city, the fans, the organization and my players deserve it, and that’s why we’re here,” continued Nancy, whose team will face Los Angeles FC at Lower.com Field.
A paid choice
A year ago, his decision to turn his back on CF Montreal, a club to which he gave everything for a decade, was quite striking. Quebec lost a coach in full bloom, who had just brought his best regular season in Major League Soccer to the Bleu-Blanc-Noir.
Nancy doesn’t regret leaving, it was worth it.
“I don’t know yet if it was worth it. As a person, I like to take risks. I believe that when I made this choice, it was the right decision to come here. At the moment, I am very happy with our position,” assured the coach.
The well-known issues
According to Nancy, there is no need to remind her troops who Saturday’s opponent is. LAFC and its Quebec goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau are aiming for a second consecutive title, which would be a first since the double of the other club from the City of Angels, the Galaxy, in 2011 and 2012.
The Crew won in 2020 at home, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a great opportunity to offer real celebrations to the city of Columbus.
“Because of what we went through during the season, and the ups and downs we had, we don’t need to tell them it’s LAFC and it’s the finals. They are ready for it,” Nancy said of her players.
“It doesn’t change the way we prepare for this game. What changes are the emotions we have to deal with and the difficult situations during the match,” he wisely recalled.
Meetings between the Crew and LAFC have been rare so far. The California team has won two of three matchups by shutout, most recently at Lower.com Field on May 21, 2022.