Wilfried Nancy has insisted that his full focus stays with Columbus Crew amid hyperlinks to the vacant United States managerial place forward of their assembly with Atlanta United this weekend.
The Crew prolonged their unbeaten run to 6 matches within the MLS following their 1-1 draw with Charlotte FC in midweek as they intention to maintain tempo with the highest two within the Japanese Convention.
Nancy’s facet sit third within the standings, 5 factors behind FC Cincinnati following their defeat to Chicago Fireplace final day trip, with Inter Miami now on the summit of the desk.
Regardless of their current kind, Nancy is hungry for extra success with Columbus, happening to garbage the rumours linking him with a transfer to the worldwide stage following Gregg Berhalter’s dismissal final week.
“I don’t speak about rumours, easy as that,” Nancy mentioned.
“Like I mentioned, I’m limitless. I wish to be limitless, so the thought is to push myself, to problem myself, however in the intervening time I’m right here. I’m pleased right here. We’ll see sooner or later.”
“I’m actually pleased as a result of the duty that we had was very tough, realizing the context, realizing the conditions.
“However my gamers discovered a option to be ourselves and to play the way in which we wished to play and to play actually good sequences, but additionally to be disgusting to play in opposition to.”
Remaining from Columbus. #Crew96 | #CLBvCLT pic.twitter.com/CuKP0Wg2ve
— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) July 18, 2024
In the meantime, Atlanta halted their three-game pointless run within the league with a draw in opposition to New York Metropolis FC, regardless of squandering their two-goal benefit within the second half.
The 5 Stripes sit in twelfth place within the Japanese Convention desk and are amongst a cluster of groups tightly packed on the unsuitable finish of the division.
Interim head coach Rob Valentino is on the lookout for a much-improved efficiency from his gamers, choosing out his facet’s particular person errors which have value them in current weeks.
“We had been underneath some strain, and we tried to make changes at half-time about being higher and simply extra courageous,” mentioned Valentino.
“There have been particular person errors. So, it’s about eliminating these moments.”
“We had been braver, extra direct and taking part in in there. The aim got here immediately. The massive factor is that we’ve got to seek out out why we dropped off.”
We cut up factors with New York. pic.twitter.com/zlQ3aYbFJ0
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) July 18, 2024
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Atlanta United – Daniel Rios
Whereas the 5 Stripes could have forgotten the right way to win within the MLS, Daniel Rios has had no such hassle find the again of the web, scoring his third aim in his final 4 matches.
Rios’ strike in opposition to NYCFC was clocked at simply 21 seconds, the quickest aim in Atlanta’s historical past, and they are going to be hoping for an additional fast begin on the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Columbus Crew – Cucho Hernandez
Cucho Hernandez continues to be the attacking spark for the Crew, together with his strike in opposition to Charlotte FC his thirteenth of the season, scoring in every of his final three appearances.
Hernandez’s aim noticed him turn out to be the primary participant within the membership’s historical past to document 60 aim contributions over a three-year span, notching 38 targets and 22 assists in that point.
MATCH PREDICTION: COLUMBUS CREW WIN
Columbus come into the competition as the recent favourites following their spectacular current run, with their draw in opposition to Charlotte which means they’re undefeated of their final six video games within the MLS. Their last more unbeaten streak was from thirteenth November 2023 to sixteenth March 2024, a run of eight video games.
Hernandez’s strike for the Crew was additionally the twelfth consecutive time they’ve discovered the again of the web, scoring 34 instances throughout that run.
Atlanta have did not win of their final two video games in opposition to Columbus Crew, with their final triumph in opposition to them got here again in November 2023, final dropping on the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in opposition to the Crew in Might 2022.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Atlanta United – 23.7%
Draw – 22.6%
Columbus Crew – 53.7%