Cedric Teuchert is looking to find his form over the final stretch of the 2025 season.
The 28-year-old was expected to follow up on his impressive start in St. Louis, which saw him register seven goals and four assists across 14 matches. But the new season brought a new manager, a failed attacking philosophy—and a new caretaker manager in response. That tumult has especially affected Teuchert.
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The German has fallen behind his attacking numbers of last season, in part because of his position evolving and Marcel Hartel starting centrally instead of deeper in the midfield. Those tweaks, along with lingering injuries during the first half of the season, resulted in a career low scoring pace for Teuchert, converting just three times in 17 matches. Similarly, Teuchert is fifth on the team in touches in the penalty area, 10th in key passes completed, and sixth in shots on target per 90 minutes.
Caretaker manager David Critchley has been vocal about the struggles of the attack this season, and the group has vastly improved since he took the reins earlier this summer. Under Critchley, CITY SC has scored 13 goals in 10 matches—up from 11 in the previous 15—and he hopes to unlock Teuchert’s scoring ability. “I’ve had a couple of individual meetings with Cedric,” Critchley said. “He’s been frustrated in himself that he’s not been scoring goals.”
During last week’s friendly with Aston Villa, Teuchert didn’t start the match. Critchley opted to start the newly acquired Jeong Sang-bin for the second straight match, but Teuchert made the most of his minutes during the second half. Crithley opted for a different set of players at halftime, but CITY quickly fell behind by two goals. Teuchert pushed high next to his strike partner, Simon Becher, and pounced on a rare Aston Villa turnover in their defensive third. The resulting goal was elementary, a simple hit after Becher ushered the ball into his path. That goal, however, could be pivotal for Teuchert.
“It’ll do a lot [for his confidence].” Critchely said afterward. “This week, he had three or four good days on the training field, so to see him get rewarded tonight with a goal was very good… That’s the challenge I give all the guys that aren’t the starting 11: to make my job as hard as possible. And he’s gone and done that tonight.”
Critchley reflected on the most recent game against Minnesota United FC, when CITY started Sang-bin instead of Teuchert: “I think [Teuchert] feels that he has to have a good week…to get back on the starting 11.”
