The Columbus Crew followed up their remarkable Hell is Real victory with a complete belly flop on Wednesday evening, losing 3-0 to Nashville SC down in the Music City. Once again put behind the eight ball by giving up an early goal, the Crew couldn’t recover this time as they lacked any sort of attacking punch on the road. The page now turns to Saturday as the Crew hosts a struggling D.C. United team that hasn’t won since May. Buoyed by a new manager, D.C. looks to make a statement of intent entering the back half of the MLS season. The Crew will be honoring club legend Guillermo Barros Schelotto on Saturday as he becomes the fourth member of the Crew’s Circle of Honor. Here is everything you need to know about DC’s new gaffer and how the Crew can ensure that they celebrate Schelotto in style. 

DC United at a Glance:

Record: 4-7-12, 19 points

League Form: L-L-L-D-L

Leading Scorer: Christian Benteke (6)

Assist Leader: Peglow (3)

Player to Watch: Peglow

Once a standout for Brazil’s youth national teams, João Peglow has long been recognized for his attacking flair and creativity. A product of Internacional’s academy, Peglow rose through the ranks with a reputation for his technical ability, quick feet, and eye for goal. He represented Brazil at the U17 World Cup, where he was one of the tournament’s top performers, showcasing his knack for beating defenders and scoring from distance.

Peglow excels in 1v1 situations and thrives in tight spaces, often operating as a winger or attacking midfielder. His low center of gravity and quick change of direction make him a constant threat in transition, while his vision allows him to create chances for teammates. With professional experience in Brazil, Portugal, and Ukraine, Peglow brings both talent and versatility to any attacking setup—capable of unlocking defenses with a moment of individual brilliance.

How D.C. United play: 

The Screaming Eagles may not currently know the answer to this question. After parting ways with Troy Lesesne, DC has hired Rene Weiler to take over coaching duties. While Weiler is a promising hire, at the time of writing, he is unable to coach yet as he awaits his U.S. work permit. Thus, Interim Coach Kevin Flanagan will most likely be at the helm again on Saturday against Columbus. Let’s dig into what we saw from Flanagan and take our best guess as to what Wilfried Nancy and company will face Saturday. 

Defensively, D.C. United defended in a relatively deep 4-5-1 formation on the road in Charlotte. This shape allowed D.C. to protect central areas while also providing some flexibility to move between defensive lines with runners. This was a pretty big shift from Lesesne’s MO of pressing high up the field. It’s fair to expect that D.C. will once again defend deep in their half in either a 4-5-1 or 4-4-2 formation on Saturday. 

In possession, D.C. United are still relatively direct with the ball, but showed a few wrinkles we hadn’t seen much of previously. The most obvious one is their use of a 4-4-2 diamond formation. This formation sees the midfield four all occupy central areas and create a diamond shape in the center of the field. This shape creates both an overload and several passing angles for midfielders when they get on the ball. It also allows for quick ball progression and combination play in the attacking third. The other interesting part of their in possession shape was that the aforementioned Peglow occupied space very high and wide on the left-hand side, instead of teaming up with the central striker, which would be more commonplace in a traditional 4-4-2 diamond. This gives Peglow the space and isolation he needs to terrorize defenses. DC United probably won’t have the majority of the ball on Saturday, but when they do, they will pose a threat. 

How the Crew can win:

Three points sure seem like a must for the Crew on Saturday. Winning home games against bottom-half teams in MLS is mandatory if you are expecting to compete for home-field advantage and more in the playoffs. Thus, the Crew will have this circled as a big chance for three points, especially after their midweek performance. 

1. Stop Conceding Early: The Crew has a bad habit. Giving up early goals has become a huge problem for this team. While it does help set up epic comebacks, it also sets up nights like Wednesday. The Crew needs to kick this habit quickly. 
2. Find the Wingbacks Up the Field: D.C.’s main defensive objective on Wednesday was to clog the middle of the field. It’s a safe bet they’ll try to do so against the Crew as well. To pull this shape apart, the Crew needs to first penetrate through wide areas, to stretch and pull the midfield. Look for the Crew to involve the wingbacks early and often. 
3. Defend in Transition: Nothing new here, this is a key in every match. D.C. loves to attack quickly and directly, and they’ll have opportunities to do so on Saturday. The Crew will do well to keep those attacks at bay.