Injuries can derail a team’s playoff hopes if they affect his play on the pitch or keep him off of it completely. Diego Rossi’s setback, which will keep him out of Saturday’s game, could impact the Crew as their situation has become desperate.
With a few games to go, and Rossi’s injury status not having clear deadlines, it is concerning for the Columbus Crew and its supporters. With players just now returning from injury, the team appeared ready to be back at full strength.
If Rossi can’t return to full strength, it could end up setting this team back or even knocking them out of the playoffs completely.
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Diego Rossi’s Setback: How it will Affect the Crew
A must-win without Rossi
The last three games for Columbus are all against teams with which they are competing for playoff seeding. In the New York Red Bulls case, they are fighting just to have a seat at the table as they are two points behind Chicago in the ninth seed.
If they Crew loses out and New York wins out, it’ll cost Columbus the playoffs; if New York doesn’t win out, then the Crew has nothing to worry about, as the Red Bulls have to be near perfect to stay alive.
The Crew face off against a Chicago Fire squad that has rallied the city behind them in what has been their best season in almost eight years under the direction of former USMNT Manager Gregg Berhalter.
Chicago is fighting to stay in the ninth seed and see if they can fight for the eighth seed and earn a home playoff game for the play-in game, no matter who it is against.
Columbus has played poorly for months; if Rossi missing the game against the Fire may not be a death note for the team, but it does set them back in a major way.
Rossi has been the best scoring threat for his team this year, as they looked for backup in the transfer window, which took some time to develop. Without Rossi in the lineup Saturday, the Crew could fall back even further.
Will Rossi be Game Ready for Playoffs
Rossi is planned to train for the Crew’s second-to-last game against Orlando City; this matchup can determine whether the Crew will end up in the playoffs or with a higher seeding.
With their chances of making the playoffs still extremely high, the Crew need their roster to be at full strength. Whatever matchup they end up with will be a challenging one, as the East has been dead even this season.
Six teams are separated by five or fewer points; teams that have already clinched a playoff spot are still at risk of dropping to the eighth seed.
With Rossi expected to be back at training next week, it allows fans to expect him to be ready for the playoffs. The real question Crew fans should be asking is what physical condition Rossi will be in.
If the Crew remain in the Eighth seed, they will play an extra game compared to the rest of the field that will be able to avoid the play-in.
Rossi is the key to the success the Crew could have. If Rossi isn’t at full strength for the playoffs, the Crew might have a similar result as last season… an early round exit.
Main Photo
Credit IMAGO/NurPhoto
Recording Date 15.08.2025