The Columbus Crew is only days away from the beginning of the 2024 preseason and a little more than a month out before the season opener. It has been a short offseason but one filled with celebration for the Black & Gold. 

As Columbus looks to defend the team’s title and compete in multiple competitions, president and general manager Tim Bezbatchenko and head coach Wilfried Nancy have decided against rocking the boat much this offseason as every starter from the MLS Cup Final has been retained. The major changes to this team were made in the summer transfer window, and the players whose options declined or were not retained after the season totaled less than 2000 minutes, including the postseason. Julian Gressel was the biggest offseason departure, totaling 972 minutes played for the Black & Gold. 

Looking forward to the 2024 season, Crew fans should feel positive about the roster. As we continue to break down the team’s roster going into the preseason, we move on to the center backs

Starters

We’ll begin with the heart and soul of the team, a leader in the locker room, right center back Steven Moreira. If not for the presence of midfielder Darlington Nagbe, Moreira would don the captain’s armband. Moreira changed positions from right back to right center back, taking on much more responsibility along the backline and defending in front of his goal, while also being asked to keep his presence felt in the attack. The Frenchman showed his defensive growth, almost fully neutralizing MLS’s most prolific goal scorer, Denis Bouanga, in the MLS Cup Final while also providing six regular and postseason assists. 

At left center back will be Malte Amundsen, the most significant incoming transfer for Columbus in the 2023 season. Like Moreira, Amundsen shifted in from wing back and found success on the Crew after coming over from New York City FC in the summer. Moreira can attack with the ball and take on players on the dribble, but Amundsen is the most likely center back to score. The Dane scored three goals in 2023 from crashing the penalty box and deep shots that made the Black & Gold more difficult to defend. Amundsen also has the vision for a pass to set up a teammate, as he did for the winner in the MLS Cup Final.

Rudy Camcho joined Columbus from CF Montreal midseason and will once again be the center of the back three after signing a new contract this offseason. With both Amundsen and Moreira pushing higher up the pitch, Camacho has to be focused and sure of his tackles. Any lapse can give an opponent a direct route to goalkeeper Patrick Schulte. Camacho will be 33 this season and, given the long season facing the Crew in 2024, depth at this position will be needed.

Backups

A key depth piece for the Crew defense will again be utility man Sean Zawadzki. The midfielder-turned-defender will likely feature both as a center back and a central midfielder this year, but Zawadzki proved he could be trusted at either spot in 2023. New signing midfielder Derrick Jones Jr. will likely also spend time along the Columbus backline, as Nancy has a habit of tinkering positionally with players. 

Yevhen Cheberko is set to be Amundsen’s primary backup. The Ukrainian was acquired midseason and was expected to allow Amundsen to move back to the left wing back. But Cheberko struggled to adapt quickly to the MLS and played in just six matches. Cheberko can play similar passes as Amundsen and showed promise that he could step into a bigger role late in the season.

Philip Quinton found himself starting early in the season but struggled and could not maintain a starting spot, not playing for the first team after May. However, Quinton’s contract was picked up as Nancy gives room for failure and wants to see his players grow. Quinton returns for his second season with the first team and could see playing time in the U.S. Open Cup or rotationally as the Black & Gold play a congested schedule. 

Other names to know

Young Keegan Hughes rounds out the center back roster. Hughes spent the majority of the 2023 season with Crew 2, logging 11 appearances and 10 starts. Hughes spent the last half of the season on loan at FC Tulsa, adding another nine appearances in USL. The Homegrown defender made one appearance for the senior team, logging a grand total of one minute in Columbus’ 6-1 route against Atlanta United. Hughes has played primarily as a right center back for Crew 2.

Crew 2 left center back Diego Almeida has most of the tools Nancy wants in a ball-playing center back, hailing from the Barcelona academy. Almeida has some work to do to improve his defensive game but looks like a good prospect.

Wing back Mo Farsi could be deputized as a right center back if Moreira missed significant time. Farsi is the only right wing back on the roster. If he needed to move back a line, it would open another hole on the roster. 

The Crew did not select any defenders in this year’s MLS SuperDraft and currently only have one rostered center back on Crew 2. Ariel Mbumba is listed as a defender for Crew 2 but plays mostly as a wing back. Center back Xavier Zengue has been in negotiations to return to Crew 2. Quinton and Hughes could see significant time at Crew 2, but the Black & Gold could use another addition to the development squad.

Other season previews

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