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Ola Kamara: Columbus Crew SC are 'very hungry' to improve on last season

Striker Ola Kamara says Columbus Crew SC are "very hungry" to get off to a good start in 2017 after a "frustrating" season in which the team missed the playoffs.

Just a year removed from reaching the 2015 MLS Cup, Columbus finished ninth in the Eastern Conference last season, six points out of a playoff spot.

But Columbus has already moved to sign Jonathan Mensah as a designated player this offseason, and Kamara told ESPN FC that the team is looking to make up for the disappointment in 2016.

"I think we brought some quality, for sure," Kamara said at MLS media day on Tuesady. "I think people are very hungry. I think it's going to be a start where we want to show what we're good for, so I'm hoping for a flying start for sure. And we want to get into the playoffs and hopefully win."

Columbus scored 50 goals last season, right in the middle of the pack in MLS, but they conceded 58 -- tied for second-most and only two behind the league's leakiest defense, Orlando City.

Kamara admitted it was at times hard to explain how easily Crew SC gave away leads last year, and urged his teammates to adjust they approached protecting them in the upcoming season.

Asked what led to the team's defensive issues last season, Kamara said: "If I knew, we would have changed it. It was frustrating for sure.

"For a long time we were playing good in games. We could play good for 60 minutes, having possession, getting chances. Then finally [when] we scored, after three minutes it was 1-1 again, even though the other team didn't have one chance before that.

"I think that's what we've got to change this year -- maybe [be] a little more cynical, and we have to have that winning mentality."

Kamara scored 16 goals in just 20 starts in his first MLS season, doing well to make up for the loss of Kei Kamara after his fellow striker was traded to New England in May.

"I had a couple of months first to look a little bit at the league when Kei was there, but I saw the possibility for me to score goals and the way we played soccer, and how quick this league is," he said.

"It's forth and back all the time in space, so if you're good finding spaces and possibilities in the box, you can score goals."

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