MLS CUP FINAL
Columbus Crew - LAFC: 2023 MLS Cup final injury report
Here is how the two squads shape up ahead of the MLS Cup Final on Saturday 9 December.
The MLS Cup Final 2023 (Saturday 9 December, KO 4pM ET / 1PM PT) draws closer and closer as the nerves for both sets of fans, players and technical staff grow more and more. Columbus Crew have the advantage of hosting the game at their home stadium, something that potentially tips the scales in terms of who is the favourite, but reigning champions LAFC will no doubt make it difficult for their attacking football to get through.
Picking a winner is hard enough, and when one runs an eye over the two squads, the task becomes even tougher. We can predict the lineups, preview the game and take a look back through history to help us, but nothing prior will count as soon as the referee blows the whistle for the start of the match.
Regarding the squads, a long season has certainly taken its toll on many teams across the United States, with plenty of players - even those we thought to be immortal - succumbing to injury at some stage of the campaign. Now it’s time to take a look at the final two squads and see who could be in the running to step out onto the pitch for the biggest game of the season.
LAFC injury report
Steve Cherundolo’s side survived their game against Seattle with no injury concerns meaning that his predicted line-up is about as strong as it gets.
The main concern for Cherundolo is perhaps whether or not star forward Carlos Vela will continue with LAFC once the season officially comes to a close. The Mexican forward is the icon at the club, having played for the Black & Gold since the team’s inception and introduction to MLS.
Rumours of a new contract have swung wildly in both directions, but the player recently dropped the biggest hint of them all, saying that “as far as my future goes, that’s the way life and soccer is. My contract expires on Sunday, I’ll be a free agent. We’ll have talks and we’ll see if I can carry on playing here. I’d be delighted to stay, but if not, I’ll look for something else and will keep enjoying the little time I have left playing soccer... the end is near and I have to enjoy it.
“Everybody knows how happy I am in LA, how happy I am in this team, but it’s a business. We know sometimes it’s not everything the way you want. We will see. I’m just thinking about the final.”
Columbus Crew injury report
As for Wilfried Nancy and his side, there is good news in their pursuit of the trophy: Will Sands is the only player confirmed as out of the squad, at this stage, due to injury. The 23-year-old New York native suffered a left ACL tear back in April and is still going through his recovery. Sands had come out of nowhere as the Crew’s first-choice left wing-back under Wilfried Nancy and had already racked up two assists in seven games, all of which he started.
The big question surrounding Columbus Crew’s starting XI will be Ramírez, who has scored 2 from the bench in recent games. However, Nancy may not want to rock the boat and continue to use the forward as an impact player against tired legs as the game wears on, with the prospect of extra-time always worth keeping in mind.