COLUMBUS, Ohio – Moments after losing the first MLS Cup Final that most members of the team had ever participated in, the Columbus Crew SC locker room in MAPFRE Stadium was not a happy place on Sunday.
There was no celebratory music, including Adele’s “Hello,” the team’s playoff anthem.
And while the players spoke softly and with few smiles, nearly all of them saw some silver lining in one of the best seasons in franchise history.
“You can’t be so disappointed about the whole thing because it was an amazing year,” Kei Kamara said. “Last night, tonight, tomorrow night, it’s always going to be reminiscing about how well we played this year.”
Objectively, the team made noticeable strides forward from a fairly successful and surprising 2014 season that saw them exit on a crushing defeat to the New England Revolution in the first stage of their playoff campaign.
This season, players launched international careers, the club sold more tickets than ever and the team reached the second MLS Cup in their history. But for a squad with high expectations, it wasn’t quite enough.
“I think success is defined differently for everyone,” Ethan Finlay said. “This [season] was a really positive step for me, for this group, but we still have unfinished business.”
In front of his hometown fans, Wil Trapp said the walk off the field was “terrible.”
“It hurts,” he said. “It really hurts.”
But even he said it doesn’t feel “at all” like all was lost.
“The last thing we would think is to toss it all out the window and say that it’s over,” he said.
Kamara said sometimes the best team doesn’t win the title. Asked what people will remember about the group, the striker said his team “played the best soccer in the league.”
And for Finlay, that brand of soccer can only grow in importance.
“You ask anyone around the league, this is a team that people like to watch, whether it’s a preseason game or in MLS Cup,” he said. “That’s powerful. We can change the way fans are looking at soccer and be a team that teams want to play and emulate their games after. I think that’s a positive.”
Now the ball is in the technical staff’s court. Head coach Gregg Berhalter and his staff will need to decide how much of an MLS Cup-caliber team can return, and how much of the team’s core is expendable.
At least in the minutes following MLS Cup, the players want to stick together.
“I love this group; it’s an amazing group,” Kamara said. “It’s part of the game. A lot of guys will be here, a lot of guys will come back. It’s not my decision, but if it is, I’ll keep everybody here.”
And those who return will have another piece of motivation.
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If the loss to New England last season stayed on their minds through 2015, the loss to the Timbers could have an even greater impact.
“It’s going to be the number-one motivating factor,” Justin Meram said. “We’re here; we got a taste of it. I think next year we’ll get the taste of victory.”
Even Berhalter, who is never one for guarantees or statements of intent, agrees with that assessment.
“[Portland] played a good game, and they won a championship,” he said. “We’ll be back, though. This team will be back.”
