Columbus Crew SC creator-in-chief Federico Higuain won't deny that he'll feel an abundance of emotion in his team's Knockout Round playoff game against D.C. United on Thursday night (8 pm ET | FS1, UniMas, TSN, TVAS).
But, for Higuain, it's all about how you channel that emotion and convert it into good, usable fuel.
“It’s going to be very exciting,” Higuain said. “You know, what can I tell you. Are you going to feel scared? Of course, but the scared turns you on. You have to use that feeling as an engine. It has to be your energy.”
The Argentine has six goals and nine assists in 30 games this season for Columbus, leading the club to the playoffs for the fourth time in the last five seasons.
"It means a lot, it's a great feeling to get back into the playoffs," defender Harrison Affulsaid. "We are all ready for the game ahead of us."
While Crew SC suffered a dip in form at the end of the season, their opponents have gone in the exact opposite direction. Wayne Rooney's arrival has helped lift D.C. from the bottom of the Eastern Conference to hosting a playoff game in just a few months.
"In soccer, one man can change a club," Afful said. "We're not going to put this in our head, it's about teamwork. We believe in our group, we believe in each other."
