After the Columbus Crew suffered their third straight defeat—a 3-2 loss to the New York Red Bulls on May 13—head coach Henrik Rydstrom delivered a message that was equal parts honest and unexpected for a club with such a proud winning tradition.

"They thought we were tough to play against, but we don't have a striker," Rydstrom admitted, referencing a post-match chat with fellow Swedes on the opposing side. "No, we don't, so we know where we are when it comes to that. It's also the expectations on the club and the team are always big and should be, but at this point where we are right now, we need to lower that a little bit."

Lower expectations? For the Crew? The team that proudly wears the "Massive" badge of honor?

It's a tough pill to swallow for a club that has become synonymous with success since the Haslam family stepped in to save the franchise in 2018. Since then, Columbus has added two MLS Cup titles (2020 and 2023), won the 2021 Campeones Cup, and moved into a stunning new stadium in the Arena District. Their former home was even transformed into a state-of-the-art training facility. For a team that once wore its underdog status as a badge of pride—the "We are massive!" chant was originally a cheeky nod to being anything but—the expectations have grown right along with the trophy case.

But injuries and roster limitations have taken their toll. At 3-7-3, the Crew are struggling to find their rhythm, and the passionate supporters in the Nordecke are growing restless. Ticket prices at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field haven't dropped, and a quick scroll through fan forums reveals a growing discontent with the direction of the season. Despite showing more fight than in their 3-0 loss to New York City FC on May 10, the result remained the same—another defeat and more questions than answers.

For a club that has built its identity on winning big, Rydstrom's call to lower expectations might feel like a betrayal of the "Massive" spirit. But in a season marked by adversity, sometimes the first step to turning things around is acknowledging where you really stand.