The reigning MLS champions take on the holding Liga MX title winners in a continental clash
The Columbus Crew host Club America at Lower.Com Field Wednesday night in the Campeones Cup, a contest that pits the league champions of both MLS and LIGA MX against each other.
The competition has been held annually since 2018, with the lone exception in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. MLS has claimed victory in three of the five matches, with Liga MX winning the inaugural edition against Toronto FC and then again in 2023, against LAFC. The Crew were the 2021 victors.
This time around, it's a battle between two serial winners. America are back-to-back league champions and the Crew are in their third Cup final of the calendar year. It's a match between North America's two best teams at the moment, a night in which excellence will take center stage as two elite programs go head-to-head in the chase for glory.
"In every game, especially in these finals," Crew forward Christian Ramirez said, "you have to learn to suffer and get through those moments and still be able to impose yourself and your style of play."
Ramirez, goalkeeper Patrick Schulte, and America's Alex Zendejas sat down with GOAL to discuss the match, and how focus and mentality will play a key role in each side achieving their goal.
Getty Images SportHistoric first meeting
The two sides met for the first time just over 12 months ago during the inaugural edition of the Leagues Cup, when America visited Lower.Com Field on the road. Heavy favorites to win the entire tournament, the Liga MX side were stunned by Wilfried Nancy's crew, 4-1. A brace from Cucho Hernandez paved the way, and two more late goals handed them the knockout-round victory – thus eliminating America from the competition.
"For us at that moment to be able to play Club America, losing Lucas (Zelarayan) that day (transfer away from the club) and seeing that Club America was a favorite that year going into Leagues Cup, to be able to put that performance on really gave us a groundwork of like, 'We can compete against anyone in this region,' " Schulte told GOAL. "It was a great day for us to be able to test ourselves against a top side, a historic side. So now I think we're in a different place. We're excited to be in front of our fans again and to be able to be in a situation to host the final."
Since that match, America were crowned Apertura and Clausura champions in Mexico, while the Crew were named MLS Cup champions, were finalists in the 2024 Champions Cup and claimed the 2024 Leagues Cup title.
Still, Columbus are level-headed going into the fixture.
"The mentality doesn't change," Schulte said. "The kind of preparation, everything doesn't change. We try to stick to the same kind of routine, same kind of schedule, and not try and overdo it. Especially against a team like Club America, they have a lot of talent, a really good team.
"But at the end of the day, it's what we put out on the field … and it's for a trophy."
AdvertisementAFPCF America out to make a statement
Club America remember their 2024 result against the Crew and hold it to heart, but at the same time, they recognize they are a different team now. And ultimately, they're more prepared for the task ahead.
“I can say that we've changed a good amount from that time," Zendejas, the U.S. international and America winger, told GOAL. "It's been a year now, but that was when our coach now first took charge. So I guess I don't want to make excuses, but every time a new coach gets to a new team, you have to get used to his style of play, what he wants for me, what he asks.
"I feel like now we're in a good moment. We definitely know what the coach wants, what he expects from us. So, just learn from every mistake that we did a year ago and just put it into practice, and don't let it happen again tomorrow. Focus on ourselves, what we can do on the field and get the result we need."
They have a clear desire to make it three trophies in as many final appearances, and they're not shying away from the Crew's form of late. Nor are they accepting intimidation by the home fans.
"It has to be a winning mentality," Zendejas said. "This team (Columbus) is used to being up there in the top of the league, winning trophies every time they can get the chance to. Luckily, we've been on a roll. I guess you could say that we've been winning.
"We were lucky enough to win back to back (LIGA MX titles) … it's gonna be an interesting game. Gonna be for a trophy. So we got to leave it all out there and just keep on demonstrating what this team is made of."
The USMNT forward shared that he is itching to take the pitch after suffering a leg injury earlier this summer that put him in a boot for six weeks. He's been cleared by medical staff to participate, just returning to the pitch in an appearance off the bench in a match against Atlas, and then earning a start on Saturday in a 1-1 draw with Necaxa.
"I feel like I'm ready to get some minutes," he said, "and hopefully everything goes well."
Getty ImagesCup excellence
Zendejas will be key for the Mexican side, as he is coming off a whirlwind of a season prior to injury. He recorded seven goal-contributions en route to their Clausura title, and during America's own Champions Cup run – where they made it to the semifinals – he had a brilliant stretch of eight matches in which he bagged five goals and notched two assists. Now, healthy again, he's looking to lead them to their third-straight title.
"I feel like this little three-peat would be a crazy experience, especially because of what club America generates, since we have a big fan base, I'd say pretty much everywhere we go internationally," Zendejas said.
The Crew, meanwhile, are also making their third appearance in a Cup Final this season. Early in the campaign, they went on a brilliant run into the final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, only to fall on the road in Mexico to CF Monterrey.
They followed it with a phenomenal performance in the 2024 Leagues Cup, defeating Luis Suarez and Inter Miami en route to a trophy over Olivier Giroud and LAFC in the final – their first Cup victory in 2024.
"It's obviously a big game," Schulte said. "So it's just allowing the work that we've done in the past to just kind of take over at this point and just kind of make sure that we're the sharpest and freshest that we can be with such a busy schedule that we've had.
"So. just mentality, it's sticking to the same routine, making sure we're fresh … we're ready to go and we're ready to fight and play for our trophy."
Preparing for history
Describing their past performances through Cup finals in 2024 as teaching opportunities, Ramirez claimed the Crew have "learned to suffer" through the results – both positive and negative.
"I think that's been something that we've continued to evolve and do well at," he said, "be able to suffer in these moments, but then dictate the game on our terms when we need to for large parts of the game. No matter who our opponent is, I think we've shown that we try to impose ourselves. So hopefully that bodes well for us.
"We know how much of a possession-based side they are as well. So it'll be a fun matchup for the neutral eye and for the fans."
Now, Columbus are looking to become the first MLS side to hoist the Cup twice in its brief existence. Although their squad – and touchline – may look very different from the team that claimed it four years ago, the mentality of the club hasn't changed. They are only interested in winning.
"We take every game, one game at a time, as cliché as that sounds and may come off," Ramirez said. "If you don't do it in that fashion, we wouldn't be able to be in this position to be able to compete for this trophy, then still be within reach and distance of the Supporters' Shield, and continue to try and climb up that ranking.
"So we know it takes everyone on the roster, it takes everyone on the staff to compete for the Campeones Cup, for everything."
With five matches left in the MLS campaign, the Crew sit second in the Eastern Conference and are mathematically alive in the race for the 2024 MLS Supporters' Shield. However, as Ramirez notes, it's game-by-game for MLS' reigning champion, and Wednesday's match against Club America is the next obstacle in their path.
