COLUMBUS — On September 1, the Columbus Crew sat at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, facing the possibility of missing the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2022. Two months later, Columbus has won eight of its last 11 matches, including five straight, and secured its fourth consecutive postseason berth.
The turnaround didn't happen overnight. It followed a coaching change, a major overhaul of the roster, and several weeks of adjustments before the Crew finally began putting together consistent performances.
Columbus struggled through the opening months under Henrik Rydström, who was dismissed in May after the club won just three of its first 14 league matches. Laurent Courtois took over as interim head coach, inheriting a team that was struggling to produce results while dealing with a crowded schedule and substantial roster turnover.
The front office also made several major changes. Diego Rossi, one of Columbus' most productive attacking players, was transferred to Monterrey in July, while Max Arfsten departed for Middlesbrough in August. The Crew responded by adding Brais Méndez, Santiago Rodríguez, Anass Zaroury, Josef Martínez, and other players capable of contributing immediately.
Those additions have become an important part of Columbus' resurgence. Méndez has recorded five goals and four assists since arriving, while Rodríguez has contributed three goals and seven assists. Zaroury has provided another attacking option, and the Crew have benefited from having more players capable of creating scoring opportunities.
Courtois has also helped establish greater consistency within the lineup. With the newcomers becoming more comfortable and the club's congested schedule easing, Columbus began playing with better cohesion and a more dependable approach on both ends of the field.
The improvement has been especially noticeable defensively. Columbus recorded consecutive clean sheets against FC Dallas and D.C. United, with goalkeeper Patrick Schulte making four saves in Saturday's 3-0 victory over D.C. The Crew have become more organized defensively while continuing to create opportunities through their midfield and attacking players.
The results speak for themselves. Columbus has won seven of its last eight MLS matches, including five consecutive victories, climbing from 15th to eighth place in the Eastern Conference.
The Crew have also shown an ability to recover from disappointment. Their October 21 loss to St. Louis in the U.S. Open Cup final could have disrupted the late-season push, but Columbus responded by continuing to win in league play.
Courtois has credited the players' growing chemistry and shared identity for the improvement. The Crew are no longer relying on individual performances to overcome their problems. They have developed a more settled team capable of controlling matches and protecting leads.
Columbus now enters Saturday's Decision Day match at Chicago with an opportunity to improve its playoff position and potentially avoid the Wild Card round. However, regardless of where the Crew finish in the standings, the changes made over the past several months have already transformed the entire season.
The next challenge is carrying that improved play into the postseason. The Crew have done the work necessary to reach the playoffs, but how well their rebuilt roster performs against the conference's best teams will determine how far this turnaround can go.
