It feels like only yesterday the Columbus Crew won the 2023 MLS Cup Final, lifting the team’s third league championship at Lower.com Field. Yet on Monday, the Black & Gold return to training as preseason begins in bitter-cold Columbus.

The focus of head coach Wilfried Nancy and president and general manager Tim Bezbatchenko this offseason was on keeping the core of the Crew’s championship roster together, but there have been some changes for 2024. As we head into the preseason, Massive Report examines each position.

Let’s get some chalk on our boots and take a look at the wing backs.

Starters

Mohamed Farsi played in a staggering 42 matches across all competitions last season. The 24 year old from Quebec was responsible for almost every minute of action on the right side until MLS veteran Julian Gressel was acquired by the Black & Gold in late July. Farsi was downgraded to a super-sub role for much of the regular season before re-emerging in the MLS Cup playoffs.

Farsi started the deciding game at Lower.com field against Atlanta United in the first round and held on to the starting role throughout the MLS Cup Final. His high work rate and defensive instinct were too crucial for head coach Wilferd Nancy to leave Farsi out of the starting 11 in the season’s most important games.

While there have been rumors surrounding Farsi’s future, he is the starter at right wing back as long as he is in Columbus

No one knew it at the time, but when the Crew acquired Yaw Yeboah in the winter of 2022, they club had found its future left wing back. It was an up-and-down year for Yeboah, who originally came to the Black & Gold to play on the right wing in Caleb Porter’s 4-2-3-1. With a coaching change and a new system, an opportunity open up elsewhere.

Yeboah asserted himself in the left wing back position, starting 27 games, including the playoff, which allowed Nancy to experiment elsewhere on the backline. At least to start the season.

Backups

Will Sands enters his third season with the Columus after seemingly having the starting left wing back position locked down at the beginning of last year. But a knee injury in late April ended his 2023 season prematurely. Sands has progressed from his injury well, and if he can get back to full health, he may be able to compete for the starting role.

There is not much depth on the right side behind Farsi. 2023 Superdraft pick Max Arfsten can play multiple positions, but excels out wide. He is a multi-talented athlete who had his best game filling in for Farsi last year. Arfsten registered a goal and an assist against Charlotte FC and gave the home fans a glimpse of his capabilities. 

Other names to know

The marquee acquisition so far this off-season has been U-22 initative signing Marino Hinestroza. The 21-year-old Columbian arrives in Columbus by way of Liga MX club Pachuca. Hinestroza registered nine starts, one goal and one assist during the Liga MX Apertura.

Bezbatachenko praised Hinestroza’s ability to beat defenders one-on-one and described him as a 7/11 type of player. There is a chance Hinestroza asserts himself immediately on either wing and adds an extra layer to the Columbus attack.

Other season previews

Goalkeeper

Center back