Columbus interim boss Courtois keen to see players’ response to poor form

Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.

The Columbus Crew’s interim boss Laurent Courtois is eager to see “how we respond collectively and individually” following a poor run of form.

The Crew are winless in their last three MLS games after a 2-1 defeat to CF Montreal on Wednesday.

Despite their impressive form in the Leagues Cup, where they have reached the quarter-finals, Columbus’ recent MLS woes have seen them drop to 12th in the Eastern Conference.

They have a tough test next against conference leaders Nashville SC, and Courtois is interested to see how his side react to their recent defeats.

“I learn a lot about people when they are having a struggle,” Courtois said.

“Are they going to step back or are they going to lose their minds? I apply this to myself.

“My general thought to them was, ‘I’m disappointed – we all are – but there are a lot of games, and we’re going to learn a lot about each other in the next few weeks because you guys are the best group I’ll ever coach, the best players and the best people’. 

“Now we faced back-to-back challenges. Let’s see how we respond collectively and individually.

“We’re going to apply what we say, which is let’s adjust, let’s reset and let’s talk about options.”

Lift each other up and bring the fight #Crew96 | @OhioHealth pic.twitter.com/kfE8cLDS3W

— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) August 21, 2026

Nashville are seven points clear at the top of the East after following up their impressive win over Inter Miami with a 1-0 victory over the New York Red Bulls last time out.

Maxwell Woledzi scored the winner in stoppage time for Nashville against the Red Bulls.

Espinoza assisted Woledzi’s winning goal, which was timed at 91:39, for Nashville on Wednesday.

It was Espinoza’s third assist in second-half stoppage time in 2026, tied with Pavel Bucha for the most this season and tying him for the most in an MLS season since Opta began detailed data tracking in 2010.

Two of Columbus’ four goals in MLS play this month have come from own goals.

One of the other two was scored by Mendez, who created a team-high two chances against Montreal last time out.

MATCH PREDICTION – NASHVILLE SC WIN

Nashville have won their last two meetings with Columbus, including a 1–0 road victory on March 14. Nashville had won only two of their first 10 meetings with the Crew (D4 L4), while neither team have recorded three straight wins over the other before.

Following their 1-0 victory over NYRB in their 20th match of the season, Nashville have won 46 points (W14 D4 L2). That is tied for the most points through not only 20 league matches in a season in MLS history, but also through the first 21.

Columbus, meanwhile, mustered an expected goals (xG) value of 0.31 in their 2-1 loss to Montreal.

Over the last five seasons, that was the Crew’s second-lowest xG tally in any MLS match (regular season and playoffs), besting only their 0.22 xG against Nashville earlier this season in March.

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