What Thiago Almada's return means for Columbus Crew vs. Atlanta United in MLS playoffs
Alex Matan knows Tuesday’s game for the Crew is not just any other.
The Crew midfielder knows the weight of the team’s playoff game match Tuesday against Atlanta United, as a win means a place in the Eastern Conference semifinal. But just because it’s the postseason, Matan said, doesn’t mean the team should “start shaking.”
“We have to go there and be the same team we were for 34 games before the playoffs,” Matan said.
For the Crew, that mindset is not budging even as Atlanta brings back one of the top midfielders in the league.
After being suspended for game one of the best-of-three first-round series after recording a red card in the final match of the regular season, Thiago Almada, the MLS leader with 19 assists, will return in Atlanta’s return to Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Crew coach Wilfried Nancy said he has “a lot of respect” for Almada, predicting “he won’t be in MLS” next year “because he’s really good.” But Nancy said the Crew’s defensive approach will not change.
“The way we defend, we don’t do man-mark,” Nancy said. “This is all about where is the ball and the shape that we want to have defensively and offensively. Don’t get me wrong. He’s going to be on the pitch and this is another tool for them. But the closest guy is going to have to be really good. We know that he can create something at any moment.”
In Almada’s only game against the Crew this year — a 1-1 tie in Atlanta Oct. 7 — Nancy’s approach worked. He had no goals and one assist in 90 minutes despite connecting on three shots on target.
In two previous games against the Crew in 2022, Almada did not score on four shots, one of which was on target. He added an assist May 28, 2022, in the Crew’s 2-1 win against Atlanta.
Almada has never beaten the Crew. Atlanta has tied twice and lost once with him on the pitch.
Diego Rossi said he goes into each game “aware of the style of play” of each team, but that it doesn’t change what the Crew’s overall game plan is.
“You need to have a mix of seeing the openings and trying to continue your ideas,” Rossi said. “Then, when you get there to the pitch, it’s a different story. You never know, but you still need to be smart and know how to play against these kind of players.”
Nancy said the Crew’s defensive plan against Atlanta worked in their 2-0 win Nov. 1, limiting the offense to one shot despite holding possession 49.2% of the match.
Nancy said he knows what is coming from Atlanta. He saw a glimpse shortly after Cucho Hernandez gave the Crew a 2-0 lead in the second half of the first game − a 15-minute period in which the Crew defense had to “run after the ball,” and fight to retain possession.
But what the Crew did worked. And it’s something Nancy expects the Crew to do once again.
“The way we defended the last game was really good,” Nancy said. “So the objective is to do the same in a better way because it’s going to be a new game.”
How would the Columbus Crew handle penalty kicks vs. Atlanta United?
While Nancy and the Crew would rather decide Tuesday’s game within regulation, penalty kicks remain at the back of the team’s mind.
In the first round of the MLS playoffs, a tie at the end of regulation leads to penalty kicks instead of two 15-minute overtime periods before penalty kicks, which will be in pace for the conference semifinals, conference finals and the MLS Cup.
And when it comes to penalty kicks, Nancy knows it’s easy to talk about.
“You know just sometimes, as a coach, this is a good job because you can talk and get information. But at the end of the day,” Nancy said, knocking on the table twice, “you have to do it.”
The Crew have ended only one game in penalty kicks in 2023, falling 4-3 to Minnesota United FC in the Leagues Cup with an order of Hernandez, Christian Ramirez, Matan, Kevin Molino, Steven Moreira and Malte Amundsen.
Ahead of the postseason, Nancy said he talked with his captains and goalkeepers to determine a list of potential penalty kick takers and taking into consideration the players’ preference of order.
“I cannot force someone to take a PK,” Nancy said. “But our job, at least, is to have a list of a few players that we know they are going to do it. And after that, we’ll see.”
The Crew will kick off against Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Thiago Almada returns for Atlanta United vs Columbus Crew
