'Going to be a fun year': Takeaways from Columbus Crew GM Tim Bezbatchenko's media address

Crew president and general manager Tim Bezbatchenko would have loved to have had more time to celebrate his club's most recent success, but that isn't the way it is in MLS.

Like most soccer leagues throughout the world, there is very little turnover from one season to the next. After members of the Crew organization got their 2023 MLS Cup championship rings last Saturday, which was followed by a dinner to commemorate the accomplishment on Tuesday, Bezbatchenko's focus "clearly, completely turns to this season."

Bezbatchenko has set his sights not only at the regular season ahead, but the multiple competitions the club will be partaking in during the course of the year.

"There's multiple challenges, but the first one is just the number of competitions that we are competing in," Bezbatchenko said Thursday. "In global soccer, it's not uncommon to compete multiple competitions. ... So, it is going to be a fun year, one filled with formidable opponents, and we're excited about it, but it is a challenge at the same time."

Listing the CONCACAF Champions Cup, Leagues Cup and Campanos Cup as competitions the Crew will be competing in, Bezbatchenko's goal is to add to seven major trophies that the club has earned across its history.

What was noticeable Thursday was his omission of the U.S. Open Cup.

In what started as a back-and-forth between the MLS and the U.S. Soccer when the league announced its request to send MLS NEXT Pro teams to the tournament rather than the first teams, which the federation denied, the status of the U.S. Open Cup up in the air.

Bezbatchenko claimed to be unable to disclose the status of the club's inclusion in this year's tournament, saying an announcement from the deciding parties is expected soon.

"It's an important competition because of the history it has," Bezbatchenko said. "But at the same time, there are clear challenges that the commissioner and the federation have outlined and they're working on them. So I'm confident that leadership at the league and the federation will come to a good resolution that, I don't know if everyone will be happy with because that's probably the definition of compromise."

The U.S. Open Cup has a significant role in Crew history, being the first major trophy that the club brought home in 2002.

Another announcement Bezbatchenko hinted at was the hiring of the new Crew 2 head coach.

With the role being vacant since Laurent Courtois took the head coaching position with CF Montreal, it has been confirmed that the person who will become the second coach in Crew 2 history has been determined.

"Excited about announcing it and for all the players on Crew 2 and for what it means for our club," Bezbatchenko said.

Here are three other takeaways from Bezbatchenko's address to the media:

'Doubling down on youth'

Bezbatchenko and the rest of the organization have been putting effort into their developmental system in a way other clubs might shy away from.

"We're doubling down on youth," Bezbatchenko said. "I think that'll pay dividends where we're not really gambling, we're in control of it. ... I think that's the most important thing is what can you control, can you create an environment that facilitates the development."

The goal goes beyond just preparing and developing young players. It is about making sure they can play in the system.

With a coach who has such a unique style of play as Wilfried Nancy at the helm for the Crew, there has been alignment throughout all levels of the club to adjust to their first-team system.

"We call our one club philosophy. It's integration from the style of play from the first team to Crew 2 to the to the academy," Bezbatchenko said. "Very proud of what the academy and Crew 2 have done to mimic the values on the first team because long term this ability to sustain success really hinges on our young players and whether or not they can develop into first team impact players."

Returning, adjusting, adding players

In Bezbatchenko's opinion, constancy gives a team a competitive edge within MLS, especially when that constancy lies in the roster structure.

On the Crew's opening-day roster, the club had 20 returning players from last season. Signing four additional players in the offseason, including Taha Habroune, who started with the club at the academy level, Bezbatchenko feels there is a clear vision across the board.

"We want to do it in our own way and in our own style," Bezbatchenko said. "I think that's really important to our identity, to stay true to our values, and clearly Wilfried and the coaches have laid that out for the players and I think it's evident for anyone who watches our matches."

With the primary transfer window open until April 23, adding new pieces is possible. When the club mutually agreed to terminate the contract of Kevin Molino before the start of the season, the move was expected to open up cap space.

Though Bezbatchenko does not feel there are any holes in the roster, he will be looking throughout the opening portion of the season at areas the team might want to add more diverse playing styles, especially with the number of competitions coming up.

"So, with each competition, frankly, the style is different," Bezbatchenko said. "So if you're playing in MLS and you're playing against the Red Bulls, that's going to be different than playing against Tigres. We need to have variation in our styles. So, I think some of that will come from tactics. Some of it will come from players assuming new roles and developing new skills and then some could come from roster additions."

Taking Columbus global

Columbus is set to be a hot spot in soccer this summer, and Bezbatchenko is ready to put the city on display.

Already lined up to host the MLS All Star Game and the SheBelieves Cup, which will include the United States Women's National Team, the club recently added a match against the English Premier Team Aston Villa to the schedule. There is also the possibility the different international competitions the Crew are partaking in happen at Lower.com Field.

"We know how special this city is," Bezbatchenko said. "But to be to be able to play in these competitions and really take Columbus global. We feel like it's our responsibility and our mission. We're excited to be able to do that through the global game of soccer."

bmackay@dispatch.com

@brimackay15

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew GM Tim Bezbatchenko address the media about 2024 season