Can Columbus Salvage Success In The 2024 CCC?
Our predictions indicated that Liga MX was the top dog in this tournament … so is one team in the finals a success or disappointment?
The 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup is down to the finals! An additional MLS spot in the Club World Cup is on the line for Columbus.
Up until last night, the Champions Cup fell in line with the Liga MX tradition of dominance in this tournament, and did not follow the ray of hope that the League’s Cup gave us last summer:
However, Columbus is doing their best job to change that tune.
Quick Refresh
TLDR, I utilized the CONCACAF club index to predict this year’s CONCACAF Champions Cup:
The index correctly picked the ratio of MLS to Liga MX teams in the semifinals, swapping out the incorrect prediction of the Philadelphia Union with Columbus.
The CCC was a reality check for MLS through the semifinals. Messi and friends has been an incredible sugar rush so far in 2024. But it is reigning MLS Cup champion Columbus providing the substance of hoping that the MLS has caught up.
Reality check number 1: Philadelphia had a realistic path to the CCC semifinals and could not make it out of the Round of 16.
Reality check number 2: The Revolution did what they were supposed to do against non-Liga MX competition, before getting EMBARRASSED by America.
Reality check number 3: there was so much hope that things would be different in 2024 because of Messi and friends. However, it was the same old story and the tallest MLS team could not stand up against the Liga MX giant.
However, there is one reason for hope. I am thrilled that Columbus is alive, especially dominating a strong Monterrey side over two legs. But this did come on the heels of two ties against Tigres, which did not inspire much confidence.
So, What Does This Mean Going Forward?
When in doubt pick Liga MX in the Champions League. The MLS has a long way to go to catch the elite Liga MX opposition in the CCC.
However, Columbus is not facing a Liga MX giant in the finals. Club America was upset by Pachuca and now the CCC is anyone’s to win between MLS and Liga MX.
While Columbus does not offer the same flash as Inter Miami, they do provide the best path forward to build a continentally competitive MLS team. Based on the League’s Cup, MLS seems to have caught up to the mid-table Liga MX teams. But there is a gigantic gap between Mexico's best and average teams, and this same gap does not exist in MLS.
They Do Not Play The Games On Paper
But paper can absolutely tell you who is the favorite. While Liga MX does need to be favored in this competition, Columbus should certainly feel confident coming into the CCC finals. However, when prepping for next year’s CCC, count me as one of the many fans primarily rooting for their MLS team (go Revs!). But MLS fans need to be realistic that there is still a gap between MLS and the top-level teams in North and Central America (aka the top 3 to 4 in Liga MX).
If you enjoyed this post, please consider subscribing to DPP for more on how the money makes the MLS go round.