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 claims the feeling is warranted.
“We are prepared for kind of everything,” midfielder Mo Farsi said. “We played some big games, whether it’s in Mexico or whether it’s here. So, mentally we’re in a good place. … We had some difficult games, so that helped us a lot in our path.”
August 21, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Crew defender Mohamed Farsi (23) is defended by Philadelphia Union midfielder Jack McGlynn (16) during the first half of a semifinal Leagues Cup match at Lower.com Field on Wednesday.
The Crew had their first taste of a final during the coach Wilfried Nancy-era in December when they hosted and defeated Los Angeles FC in the MLS Cup final. The Crew continued their success in 2024 during the CONCACAF Champions Cup, reaching the final against CF Pachuca.
In a one-leg final at Pachuca’s home stadium, Estadio Hidalgo in Mexico, the Crew had their worst performance of the season, falling 3-0. It was revealed afterward that more than half of Columbus’ players and the entire coaching staff were dealing with food poisoning.
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Farsi was one of those players affected. He said was dealing with symptoms before starting at right wingback in the game. More than two months removed, the match is still a sore spot for Farsi, but he’s choosing to look ahead to the new title opportunity.
“What happened in Mexico is unfortunate,” Farsi said. “I think for me, it was unfair. What’s good with football is you always have the opportunity for revenge. Not revenge against the same team, just revenge for yourself.”
Jun 1, 2024; Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico; Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernandez (9) reacts in the second half against CF Pachuca in the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup Championship at Estadio Hidalgo. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports
Pachuca was knocked out of Leagues Cup in the round of 32 against Tigres, making 2025 Champions Cup the next opportunity for the Crew to possibly get a rematch.
Now, it appears that a Leagues Cup trophy will be sufficient enough to compensate for what the Crew feels they lost out on in Pachuca.
“I think we were really distracted with the circumstances of what was going on,” Crew forward Christian Ramirez said. “We didn’t really live in the moment for it, we were a bit distracted in that sense. But I think now that we’re able to be at home on Sunday, be with our families, stay on a normal schedule and prepare, definitely be enjoyable to have it here.”
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew mindset for Leagues Cup final impacted by Champions Cup
