Not a revolution but an evolution with Coach Rydström

Black & Gold supporters, expect “not a revolution, but an evolution."

At least, that’s how Dylan Chambost and Malte Amundsen chose to describe their team identity and new head coach’s playing style ahead of the 2026 MLS regular season.

Wednesday morning marked the first time Henrik Rydström was able to conduct a Columbus Crew training session in person. Despite being named the club’s ninth boss on New Year’s Eve, immigration paperwork kept him overseeing practices remotely back in his native Sweden. But he was able to work with assistant coach Laurent Courtois, other staff members and the players virtually. 

“I really took the opportunity to prepare myself as well as possible,” said Rydström. “The good thing nowadays is that we have this way of still communicating. We did a lot of video meetings. Then I called a lot of the players.”

“I have watched a lot from Sweden, and you watch games from MLS, you watch trainings with the tactical cam and you understand a lot of things.”

So, while the day was Rydström’s first chance to coach players down in Clearwater, Fla., it was also the first opportunity for the media to meet with the new coach to hear his thoughts on the team and his preferred tactics.

Expect more pressing – offensively and defensively

Rydström was cautious with his words. He said the club will deploy a more “direct” style than recent Crew seasons, but he made it clear that his interpretation of direct is different from the stereotypical lens. 

Instead of kick-and-rush play and counter attacks, think more aggressive attacks to frustrate and overload the opponent. 

“If I say directness, it sounds like we’ll be a counter attack team who try to just put the ball in behind. But that’s not the style,” he said. “It’s to take the opportunity when you can go forward to threaten a little bit more. But it’s difficult sometimes when you’re a team that likes to have the ball, and we like to have the ball. 

“I’m a coach who loves when our team dominates with the ball, but you can also play too many sideways passes, you play backwards and you wait a little bit too much. It’s a thin line… to find the moments to go against the opponent and drive. I love passes, but mix it up with running with the ball. How can you stress the opponent a little bit more in their penalty box?”

The new coach also mentioned his side will play with “fluidity” both in terms of players switching positions – but not too much, he says – as well as movement on the pitch. 

“You’ll see maybe we’ll be close to each other when we attack” Rydström said. “A lot of teams are spread out wide, but I like when we are close to each other because you can start to use each other and also be creative when you have the ball. So that’s the style, I would say. I also hope that’s also evolving during the season. And if there are problems, we will try to find a solution.”

The Crew “inspired” Rydström in previous seasons

From his opening remarks, the Swede made it clear the Columbus Crew are a club that play beautiful, attractive soccer. In fact, he even said he was “inspired” by the 2023 and 2024 teams while coaching Malmö FF, and he tried using ideas from those Black & Gold sides with Sweden’s top team. 

“The way Columbus played under [former head coach] Wilfried Nancy, I think it’s amazing football,” Rydström remarked. “I owe a lot of things to him and his staff because it’s a well drilled team. They know how to keep the ball. They know how to frustrate the opponent when they attack.  

“I think it’s a joyful way of playing. If you ask my style … what do we need to do to win? To enjoy yourself, it’s an important part there. If you start to play in the way you did when you were a kid, you can bring back those emotions again. I think that the Crew have done that in a way that few teams are capable of doing.” 

 Chambost, Amundsen excited for ‘a new journey’

“The group is excited for the new journey,” Chambost said. “It’s part of soccer. Coaches change, we as a player have to adapt ourselves. It’s going to be something interesting and exciting to see another way to play to meet new people, new culture, new coaches. It’s going to add a few different things. As a player and as a person, it’s always good to have change in life to be kind of uncomfortable.” 

Chambost also reiterated Rydström’s emphasis on the Crew playing more direct than in previous campaigns. 

“I think the main thing is to put more doubt on the opponent,” the midfielder said. “We’re going to try to play forward more than last season. We’re going to try to control the game because he wants to have the possession as well. But if we can put more crosses, more set pieces, more runs – all that stuff.”

Amundsen offered similar sentiments. 

“New people always bring new energy, and that can be really good,” the Dane said. “I think he wants to add more directness and a little bit different with defending.”

The Crew kick off the 2026 exactly one month from Rydström’s first practice. The Black & Gold season opener is Feb. 21 at the Portland Timbers. 

Crewsmas – the Black & Gold home opener at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field – is March 7 against Chicago Fire FC. Secure your spot today.