Training notes | Matchday 26

The Crew has also experienced a lot since winning the league’s championship title last December. Columbus fought its way to the final of the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup last month, but lost to Mexican team Pachuca – a path that was almost identical to the one LAFC took after winning the 2022 MLS Cup.

Aside from the black of their shirts, there are other similarities between the two clubs, the most important of which is that they have been top of the Supporters’ Shield table since April.

But while the pain of losing in last year’s foggy final in Ohio is still palpable among some LAFC players, head coach Steve Cherundolo has resigned.

“We don’t really talk about revenge against teams,” Cherundolo said at the post-practice press conference Friday at the LAFC Performance Center. “What happened last time is something you only really talk about when you’re playing against your cross-town rivals. Other than that, this is an MLS game, it’s three points, it’s against a very good team, a very well-coached team, a team that’s stuck to their formula and has done a fantastic job, and they’ve been on form lately. So we’ve got a lot of work to do tomorrow. But it’s different circumstances than last year.”