Cucho Hernandez expected to be available for Columbus Crew in Champions Cup final
Brianna Mac Kay
Cucho Hernandez is expected to be available for the Crew in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final. Coach Wilfried Nancy said the striker has returned to full training with the team ahead of Saturday's match.
"The idea is that he's going to be available," Nancy said. "He wants to have a good game, and we want that also."
Prior to this week, Hernandez had been limited in practice and missed the Crew's past three matches due to a back injury. Nancy confirmed last week that the club was monitoring the injury on a "week-to-week" basis.
Despite dealing with the injury, Hernandez had been able to take part in the altitude training the team started last week in preparation for competing in Pachuca, Mexico, which is nearly 8,000 feet above sea level.
The Crew will be facing the Liga MX club CF Pachuca in the one-game Champions Cup final on Saturday.
This is the club's first ever appearance in the tournament final, and if the Crew were to win, they would become only the second MLS team to ever win the title. The Seattle Sounders are currently the only club from the league to win a Champions Cup, back in 2022. A win would also secure Columbus a spot in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
Hernandez has recorded two of his six goals this season in the Crew's six CONCACAF matches.