Columbus Crew interim head coach Laurent Courtois is determined to repay the club's hierarchy following his appointment.

The Crew sacked Henrik Rydstrom after a winless run of four games (D1 L3) and left the team 13th in the Eastern Conference after 14 games.

Courtois made a winning start to life as interim boss, guiding Columbus to a 1-0 win over New York City FC in the quarter-finals of the US Open Cup.

He will take charge of his first MLS game when the Crew host Atlanta United on Sunday, in what will be their final game before the World Cup break.

"We're going to try to work on the mentality freshness, physical freshness and try do the stuff that I like to do," said Courtois.

"The things that I'm used to doing, and things the players have been doing for the past few years.

"I want to prove people right, because there's a lot of people that trust me, or us; I want to make them feel good.

"[I'll] Stick to what I believe is a good mixture of the football that I love and football that can be successful.

Columbus midfielder Sean Zawadzki added: "We use this first half of the season to learn from and put behind us in away, and then looking forward to really focusing on what's in front us and having that mentality, that new opportunity to find a way back up the table.

Atlanta, meanwhile, are 14th in the East after just one win in their last three MLS outings (D1 L1).

They were also knocked out of the US Open Cup during the week, losing 4-1 to Orlando City on the road.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Columbus Crew – Max Arsten

Max Arfsten, who had a goal and an assist against Atlanta United in April, has totalled four goals and four assists this season.

Arfsten is one of two Americans, along with Sebastian Berhalter (six goals, seven assists), with at least four goals and four assists in MLS this season.

Atlanta United – Aleksey Miranchuk

Aleksey Miranchuk was directly involved in eight shots in Atlanta's 1-1 draw with Orlando City last time out in MLS. (seven shots, one chance created).

Over the last three league matches, Miranchuk has been involved in 21 shots (11 shots, 10 chances created), the most by an Atlanta player in a three-match span in over two years (Thiago Almada – 22 in April 2024).

MATCH PREDICTION – COLUMBUS CREW WIN

Atlanta United are looking to snap a five-match losing streak in Columbus, having been outscored 16-4 at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field since 2023 (including playoffs).

The five-match losing streak in Columbus equals Atlanta’s longest road losing run at a single opponent in all competitions (at New England from 2021-25).

However, Columbus’ 13 points through 14 matches is their worst mark at this stage of a season since totalling 11 points after 14 matches in 1996.

And Atlanta boss Tata Martino has never lost a regular-season match against an interim manager (W5 D3 L0), including Atlanta’s comeback draw at Martin Perelman’s Orlando City on Saturday.

Thirty-two managers have taken charge of at least eight regular-season matches against interims and Martino is the only one to never lose.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Columbus Crew – 62.2%

Draw – 19.8%

Atlanta United – 18%