Nariman Akhundzade continues his adaptation process in MLS. The striker is gradually getting used to the football reality of the USA and the Columbus Crew club, and the club is already talking about his great potential and the important role he can play in the team's future. However, he currently lacks game practice to some extent.
İdman.Biz reports that the transfer to one of the most systematic clubs in the American league has become an important stage in the young football player's career, and he is regarded in the USA as a long-term promising project. Columbus Crew does not hide that they hope Akhundzade will develop not only as a central striker, but also as a universal attacker. The team's head coach, Henrik Rydström, said that the new transfer has the ability to play in several positions at the same time, which is of particular importance for the modern attacking football model.
At the same time, the coach does not intend to speed up the player's adaptation process. The coaching staff prefers the player's gradual development so that he can fully reveal his potential in the new environment. "We will treat Nariman with caution," said Rydström, commenting on the player's performance in training and his determination on the field.
This explains a lot. Akhundzade has appeared in six MLS matches so far, and his total playing time is 31 minutes. He also appeared in the starting lineup in the cup match and played until the end of the match, helping his team to reach the 1/4 finals. The striker is already starting to have personal fans in the USA. One of our compatriots, Jeyhun Alizade, presented Nariman with levengi after one of the last games.
The club is satisfied with the striker's performance in the first period. His agility, technique, activity without the ball, and ability to open between the lines are particularly noted. According to club experts, it is these qualities that allow the football player to quickly adapt to the intense playing style of MLS.
True, against this background, the situation of the Columbus Crew club in the championship is not so encouraging. The current 13th place in the Eastern Conference shows that the Ohio representative is still not performing stably. The team is going through a period of renewal and reconstruction after changes in the coaching staff and game philosophy. In such circumstances, giving preference to young football players is of particular importance. The club understands that adaptation of a football player from Europe takes time, so the pressure on the Azerbaijani striker is kept to a minimum.
Columbus Crew's general manager Issa Tall also highly appreciated the player's potential. The club management believes that Akhundzade can add new options to the team's attack line thanks to his speed and versatility. After successful performances in the Karabakh club and games in the Champions League, Akhundzade has the opportunity to prove himself in a completely different football culture. Here, physical intensity and high game tempo are of particular importance.
Nevertheless, expectations from Akhundzade remain high. MLS is confident that if he follows the right path of development, he can become one of the prominent figures of Azerbaijani football in North America and an important element of the Columbus Crew team's attack line.