COLUMBUS CREW SC SPORTING DIRECTOR AND HEAD COACH GREGG BERHALTER …
On Homegrown Player Alex Crognale:
“What I like about Alex is – you know, we’ve been able to watch him over the last three years – and he’s really developed. He’s really matured, and I think every year he’s improved his game from both the mental and physical standpoint. We’re excited to see if he can keep going with that development.”
On Crognale’s potential and abilities:
“He’s a very promising young center back. He has lot of the right tools to make it as a professional. We’re excited to see if we can bring even more out of him and put him on stage to perform.”
On the added depth from Crognale’s signing:
“We’re expecting big things from Alex. We want to see him make the jump and we want to see him get onto the field. He gives us depth, but it also gives us a lot of potential.”
On Alex playing for his hometown club:
“I think it’s hugely important to have local community members representing Columbus Crew SC. Alex is one of those players. We’ve had 10 Homegrown Players (before Alex) and he’s the next one. That’s special. When the people, when the public can come out to MAPFRE Stadium and see him on the field – to see local products on the field – it means a lot. It really ties that connection.”
On the transition from the NCAA to MLS:
“Making the step from college soccer to MLS is a big step, but we think – because of his progress over these last years and because of the way he’s been getting better and improving his game – he’s going to be able to do it.”
On the since of familiarity with Crew SC:
“There’s going to be many elements of this new year for him that will be unfamiliar. So, having said that, it’s nice to have familiar faces (like former high school, Crew SC Academy and University of Maryland teammates Wil Trapp, Ben Swanson and Zack Steffen, respectively). It’s nice to have some comfort, because the whole process does get pretty uncomfortable for rookies.”
On the next steps to be made this offseason:
“Moving forward, we’re going to obviously finish with the MLS Re-Entry Stage 2 Draft this week. Then it’s filling out the roster. We have some important spaces to fill and we will continue to work to fill them by the end of the year.”