LEWIS CENTER, Ohio – Last year’s MLS Cup runners-up are nearly finished reloading for 2016.
At Columbus Crew SC training this week, head coach and sporting director Gregg Berhalter said the team is “close” to where he wants it.
“I think we need to perform,” he said. “We have the personnel, now it’s about the performance.”
After a few signings last week, the club now has 24 roster spots filled, and Berhalter has said he only plans on carrying 27 of a possible 28 into the beginning of the season.
The team is still hosting 2016 SuperDraft selections Chase Minter and Marshall Hollingsworth along with trialist Matt Pacifici in camp and on Friday announced the waiving of Romain Gall and Sergio Campbell.
Berhalter said he probably crossed off “95 percent” of his offseason wish list, and expects a better squad than the one that reached an MLS Cup final last season.
“I think we’re stronger,” he said. “I think with the pieces we added, we’re stronger this year than we were last year. But again, there’s a whole lot that goes into results. That’s team chemistry, keeping guys healthy and performing. So on paper we’re probably stronger, but there’s a long way to go.”
Signings of winger Emil Larsen, striker Ola Kamara and defender Amro Tarek are likely to make the most impact this season, and Berhalter said those signings and others present a more competitive situation.
“We’re double-set in almost every position on the field,” he said. “So I would say there’s going to be a lot of battles for game time this year, and that’s a good thing.”
Owner Anthony Precourt is happy with the offseason as well.
At the club’s jersey reveal Wednesday, he said he would defer to Berhalter’s expertise, but admitted he was feeling positive.
“I think we’re pleased with the changes we made to the squad,” Precourt said. “It’s always hard to keep everyone together, especially after a successful season. But we’re looking forward to next year.”
- Get more Crew SC news at ColumbusCrewSC.com
While Berhalter said Campbell didn’t make it with Crew SC largely because of his international status, there were other reasons for Gall's departure.
Berhalter admitted some frustration with the United States youth national team product who never found footing in Columbus.
“I’m not too pleased with how that ended up,” he said. “I thought he had potential. We just weren’t able to get it out of him, in terms of how he was going to fit in our system. Part of that is coaching, and we’ll take responsibility for that. But I thought there was a lot to work with, and I’m just a little bit disappointed with how it ended up.”
