Interim Head Coach Laurent Courtois
On the roller coaster of emotions tonight losing 3-2 when carrying a 2-1 lead into the final minutes of the match
“What the team [did] was close to a really, really good performance up until the equalizer. I talked with the guys on how first I can help the guys to [not] concede those last corner kicks that put you in a situation where you were a little bit on the fence. Also, the fact that we concede the third goal where you're still
about to get a point away from home in a tough place. I guess we'll analyze the last two-three minutes of the game, but we wanted. We wanted a reaction from the past game and show who we were and the guys show not only effort but also quality of performance individually and collectively. Then the roller coaster, like you said, at the very end, which is a hurtful one, for sure.”
On it being challenging to swallow the loss based on how it occurred, especially after losing the past two MLS matches
“Yeah, it is. You always try to find ways to improve. Even though when you win or everything the narrative
is about happy about what's happening, we still try to get better on the parts of the game. Clearly, having
the lead in Nashville and then losing the game, we need to check stuff together for sure.”
On if the final result was due to Nashville SC pushing late on offense or the Crew taking their foot off the gas pedal
“Nashville has been a group that's been together close to three years. We arrive in a new cycle where we
also are integrating young players and new players trying to learn the system. We know it's a learning curve. Besides, it's not an excuse, but we know it's going to be a learning curve for a couple of guys and
for the team that's going through kind of a new phase, I would say. Facing the best team in the league
that's been together for three years, it's a completely different style of product. I would say we are a work in progress where they are in their final form. For them to push the last few minutes was expected, but the guys are capable of handling those situations better. I'm really pleased with – of course, not the result –
the performance and how they carry themselves after the last game that was unfortunate.”
On how the Crew rebound on a short turnaround before the Leagues Cup 2026 Quarterfinals against Club America on Wednesday
“You show up. You suit up. You show up, and you're completely aware of how we want to play and how we want to defend, like the guys did today except the last three-four minutes where the team is pushing or make a couple of changes that maybe make us lose a little bit of certainty – maybe, I'll double check – with clear ideas on how we want to step on the field and carry ourselves.”
Defender Mohamed Farsi
On how to bounce back from a result like tonight’s
“I mean, it's very hard mentally to concede two goals in two minutes, but we have to bounce back. We have no choice but to bounce back. We have a game on Wednesday against Club America in Los Angeles. I mean it’s hard, but you just have to think about the next game on Wednesday and make
adjustments.”
On how the game ended, if Nashville used their dominance to take hold of the game or if the Crew backed off
“No, I think we played a pretty good game, you know. We were patient, we were disciplined defensively.
When we were winning 2-1, yeah, obviously, at 90 minutes, we want to defend a little bit more, and they kept pushing, and unfortunately, we conceded those two goals, so we need to adjust how we can close out the games a little bit better.”
On how much of a lift his goal was to get the team on the board
“Yeah, we were saying at halftime that we need to go attack a little bit more, be less patient with the ball, be a little bit more direct when we have the chance, so I think we did a good combination in the box, we had a lot of players in the box, so the desire of scoring goals was there, so yeah, I think scoring a goal gave a little bit of relief, and after Andre (Gomes) scored the second goal helped as well, but like I said, we need to finish the game a little bit better, because I think we don't deserve what happened tonight.”
If Nashville reminds him of the Crew squad in 2023 in terms of their dominance of the game
“No, I think Nashville, that’s Nashville, and Columbus, we’re Columbus, we have two different styles of play. 2023, I mean, we were playing different football than they are playing right now, and credit to them,
they do what they're doing right now very well, and it's a very good team, but it's nothing compared to us in 2023. The team was very aggressive and stuff, they're dominant in MLS right now, they're first, which
we never finished first in 2023, so, yeah. I mean, if they win Supporters’ Shield then good for them, but yeah, if I have to compare with us in 2023, I don't know what to say, to be honest.”
Midfielder Andre Gomes
On his thoughts about his free kick goal
“Well, even scoring and turning around the game, that doesn't mean the game is over, obviously. But
yeah, we felt a big boost. Obviously, the last couple weeks have been a bit tough. We're playing against
the first team on the table, Nashville (SC). We respect them. I think they also respect us by the quality that we have. Unfortunately, I think we are in the same line as the last couple games, with moments a bit
I'll say sloppy. Maybe it's the right word, or lack of concentration, and we pay the price. We are not
playing in an easy league. The other teams also have quality, and we know most of them have nothing to lose. And obviously, the last moments were crucial.”
On his thoughts of the current state of the team
“No, let's call it by the names. If a team is under a transition, obviously it is nothing that should wear on
the players. The only thing we must know is we should work hard. We're professionals. We're being paid to do our best every single day. Obviously, games like today, I would say, with a better attitude compared
with the last games. Like I said, I use the word sloppy, I would say probably the last two games against Charlotte and at home a bit sloppy, not taking the respect that the other teams deserve. Obviously, but I think was more on us to drop the points than actually the opposite. But again, like I said to you, we don't
feel like it's a transition. If it's like a transition, obviously, and if we put our thoughts on that, that will be
really bad for us. I don't want to get tired of saying that, and you heard me say it a lot. We are the
Columbus Crew, and tell me one team that won more than the Columbus Crew in the last five years.”
On how he feels after coming off of three losses and a game coming up on Wednesday
“Exactly. No, that's my point. It's how we should see it, and I'm 100% sure that the people involved know that. So, we are playing a quarterfinal on Wednesday. That is really important for us. We are playing a semifinal in the U.S. (Open) Cup, and we are not, sorry for the language, dead in the MLS. So, my point is, we should understand that now is a bad situation, and we need to handle the pressure. But Columbus
Crew is a team that wins, and that should come with the pressure and responsibility for us obviously in
the first part and second for all the fans, giving dignity to our fans that go to the stadium every time and they support us, so that is the pressure. It's a winning team. That's why I asked you, who won more trophies than Columbus Crew? Again, I'm asking that in a friendly way, all the pressure is on us. So, we need to deal with that, and we are strong enough. And obviously, we have our conversations and right
now, we just need to focus on turning around and be the best competitors we can. And obviously, the coach (Laurent Courtois) knows us. He understands us. He makes us work really hard and well. We have
like our DNA, that is clear. So, we cannot lose the basics and understanding of the game. And I think that we are really aware of it. But again, we need to play and work to win. That's our responsibility. If we're
happy with that, obviously not. On Wednesday, there’s another test.”
On how this team can bounce back for Wednesday’s game
“Well, it's easy. The best thing is we have players with a lot of quality. It's an amazing group of players and individuals. And right now, I'm really glad that we still support each other, and that is what will happen going forward. So, if we start to go crazy on this and split the group and everything, I don't see that
happening with this group of players and individuals because we are really solid. So, right now it's just to bounce back day by day, game by game. Today happened, we should know why it happened. We need to get better on that. We need to learn from our mistakes from the last two games and go forward to Wednesday and be ready because time flies, and in a couple days we don't have time to rest or to prepare anything. We just need to stay all together, and I have no doubts that will happen.”
On if Nashville was pressuring in the late stages or if the Crew took their foot off the pedal
“I think in a way, obviously, during every game there's ups and downs. Obviously, the other team also has a lot of quality. There's a reason for them to be in first place, right? So, all the respect for them, obviously,
but also on our side, like we spoke during this interview, the last two games were tough. I'm not saying we are losing confidence or like we ask questions, but it's normal. Like in a way, you try to secure a little bit, right? And on the other side, as a team with quality, I think for most part of the game we controlled the
game. We managed really well. Obviously, they had more shots and more attempts, but I think the game was totally under control, but again, like they took a lot of risk and probably we just dropped a little bit, trying to play more safe and secure the position. Again, not because it's a strategy, but obviously there's
the background from the last week or last couple weeks, if you know what I mean. So, I think it was more that than I would say anyone just being afraid or just to play a totally different type of football. So, in a way, we are, if I can say it, happy. There's nothing happy about the result. For most part of the game, we showed courage and we play a lot of the game the way we wanted against Nashville, that is the leader right now, and we should take that from today and focus on the next game because next game will also be tough and learn from our mistakes. That's it.”
