A few days after exiting the Major League Soccer playoffs, decision time is fast approaching for the Crew. Barely one year from when he was hired as the franchise's coach and sporting director, Gregg Berhalter will spend the next few days determining which players will return next season and which ones will be let go.

A few days after exiting the Major League Soccer playoffs, decision time is fast approaching for the Crew.



Barely one year from when he was hired as the franchise�s coach and sporting director, Gregg Berhalter will spend the next few days determining which players will return next season and which ones will be let go.



Yesterday , Berhalter had a final team meeting at the Crew�s facility in Obetz before players departed for the offseason.



�This time last year was when I first met the team, and the message to them was push yourself in the offseason, use the offseason to get better and come back hungry and motivated, and I think they did a great job of that,� Berhalter said.



�The message was similar in terms of really using this offseason to improve and get better. We want to recharge and let some of the tension out from the season, but from the same aspect, this is a valuable time to start focusing on how to improve for next year.�



Major League Soccer will have an expansion and waiver draft on Dec.10 and re-entry drafts on Dec.12 and 18. Teams can protect 11 players from the expansion draft, with homegrown players automatically protected. Players whose options for next season will not be picked up will be notified early next week, Berhalter said.



�I think we have a good group of guys, and we�d like to keep the core group together as much as possible,� he said. �The expansion draft, sometimes you run the risk of losing some guys, but it is a good core. It�s a group we believe in.�



Three players are out of contract: midfielders Bernardo Anor and Justin Meram and defender Eric Gehrig. Berhalter said that even though the staff has not had conversations with players who have options for next season, there have been some talks with those three. Anor and Meram said they hope to be back.



�My main focus right now is to head with the national team and focus on that,� Meram said Monday after being called into the Iraqi national team. �That�s on my agent and Gregg. I love Columbus, and I love this club.�



As he left yesterday, Anor said that even though there haven�t been �any clear set-up negotiations,� he enjoyed his first season with Berhalter and is not exploring other options.



�I would like to be here,� he said. �I like the program and I like the philosophy that this team carries. It�s an experience that I liked this year, and I learned a lot. I definitely want to keep learning and keep progressing as a player.�



Asked if designated player Federico Higuain will be back, Berhalter said, �Yes.� The Crew has a club option on him.



ajardy@dispatch.com



@AdamJardy