OBETZ, Ohio – When Columbus Crew SC lost a heartbreaking MLS Cup final to the Portland Timbers in 2015, the group was devastated. Columbus players described a “dark” feeling that led to the year-long hangover of 2016, when the club missed the playoffs.
Now, just days after losing to Toronto FC in the Eastern Conference Championship series in a match that saw Columbus come within inches of the goal they needed to host another MLS Cup final, the players who were part of the 2015 run say that feeling hasn’t returned.
Instead, they liken the mood in Columbus to the way the team felt after the 2014 season, when a young team and an early playoff exit was cause for optimism, not devastation.
“You could feel the energy in the group – that guys weren’t satisfied, by any means, with how it ended,” said captain Wil Trapp. “(Conversely), you look at after the disappointment of the final. It was almost this deep, dark exhale that was more deflating than invigorating. So, from that perspective, it’s a positive reaction. I’m excited for what’s to come.”
Trapp wasn’t the only player to use the word “excitement” at the club’s last day of media availability Friday. Veteran Josh Williams also said he had “a sense of excitement” despite the loss.
“Obviously, there’s disappointment in not advancing, but I thought the latter part of the season was incredibly fun,” he said. “The progressions we made were enormous. I feel like if you’re not excited in that locker room about the future, maybe watch some of the games we played.”
For head coach Gregg Berhalter, that mentality is encouraging.
He said he had a conversation with the team, and sent that very message of optimism for the future.
“That was the underlying theme – that you have disappointment, but what it does is it fuels you to be better,” he said. “That’s the sentiment I’m feeling from the group right now.”
Even young goalkeeper Zack Steffen, who wasn’t around in 2015 and said he had “a somber two days” after the loss in Toronto, was able to take a step back and appreciate what the team accomplished in 2017.
“It was a great year, especially after not making the playoffs last year,” he said. “We’re a young team and we faced adversity and brought a city even closer. It was a lot of fun.”
The players brought Columbus together, and also came together as a young group throughout 2017.
Hector Jimenez said the Crew SC locker room feels like “a brotherhood” after the adversity they faced this season. And while he said they aren’t “taking it lightly,” he said he expects the team to be able to build on the disappointment rather than wallow in it.
“Obviously, we want to be playing in this MLS Cup final,” he said, “but we’ll just use it as fuel for next year.”
And that fuel is already burning in the players, who were unanimously ready to get back to soccer after taking a few days to rest.
“I couldn’t be more excited about getting everybody back together in the preseason and making another run at this,” Williams said.
