A new year means new objectives for the Columbus Crew. Away from Ohio’s freezing meteorological conditions, Cancun’s delightful 80 degree-weather was a good opportunity for head coach Wilfried Nancy to refresh his mind and prepare for his second season with the Black & Gold.

Crew players returned from their deserved vacations on Monday, gathering once again for the OhioHealth Performance Center for the team’s first practice before leaving for Port St. Lucie, Florida on Tuesday. The 2024 preseason took off with light activation through ball touches, small-sided possession games and individual core strengthening. However, a long chat from the coaching staff with the players before practice stood out. The mental aspect of the game is about to become the most important issue for the Crew players this year, who need to draw a line from the recently obtained MLS Cup title, won last season with a 2-1 win against LAFC at Lower.com Field, and focus on the challenges that being the defending champions will bring.

“It is going to be very interesting because we won last year, but we have to start again from the bottom. Are we going to be able to do that?” Nancy said. “It’s a new season and the adversity is going to be higher.”

Nancy and his players need to learn how to act as champions, but most importantly, how to transition towards a new mindset. This starts from the bottom and can’t include a feeling like the Crew is the best team in the league based on what happened last yera.

“We will need to learn how to act when we win something, and then go back to start from the bottom,” Nancy said.

Talking to the players throughout the preseason is going to be key to drawing a line from the successful past year and focusing on what is next.

“Next week, I’m going to have a meeting with them for sure,” Nancy said. “This is why I do this job. This is why, with my staff, I will challenge the players. We need to find a balance because we won, but are they going to be able to look forward?”

Looking forward means, in part, recovering the level some key players had in the past. Forward Diego Rossi, who joined Black & Gold last August, didn’t have much time to integrate with his new teammates but will have his first preseason with the team looking to recover his best level. Rossi was a former MLS Golden Boot winner, but just had just three goals in three assists in 10 regular seasons, although he was a part of five goals in the MLS Cup playoffs.

“Obviously, he was not so happy with what he showed last year,” Nancy said. “But we saw good things and he was able to do good things. He just showed a little bit because he didn’t have a complete preseason.”

Nancy is confident Rossi will become a crucial offensive player for the team.

“He is going to be ready because he knows he can bring more and he wants to bring more.” Nancy said.

With a target on their backs this season as the defending champions, plus a busier schedule due to winning MLS Cup, the Crew will need Rossi and others to raise their game in order to have another successful year.

The Black & Gold’s season opener will be on Feb. 24 when hosting Atlanta United at Lower.com Field