With Atlanta United inching closer to clinching playoff qualification, the mood remains focused in the red, black and gold camp. While many outside sources are debating how high in the standings the Five Stripes can go, the team is still focused on one goal at a time.
“The main goal has always been to make the playoffs,” head coach Tata Martino said through a translator Tuesday. “It’s true we’re close now, but once we reach that first goal of making the playoffs, then we can start setting new goals of finishing third or fourth to have home-field advantage.”
Next up is the Philadelphia Union, a team that Atlanta United needed a stoppage-time equalizer against to earn a point in the reverse fixture up north last month. Atlanta United’s players were quick to point out the variety of ways in which the Union can be dangerous to any defense, but captain Michael Parkhurst said sticking to their offensive game plan can go a long way to help them defensively.
“We can get pressure high up the field, and can keep our line higher and away from goal,” he told reporters after training Tuesday. “But most importantly, we want to make those guys work defensively. We want to be on the ball, dominate and dictate the pace of the game, and make sure they exert as much energy as possible on the defensive side.”
Much of the pre-match focus from the outside has been on the injury of Miguel Almirón, but the team remains confident as their “next man up” mentality goes on display again.
“He’s obviously an important part of our team, but there’s been no feeling sorry for ourselves or anything,” Parkhurst said. “We still have a very good team. So nothing changes for us as far as goals or style of play, the way we want to attack or how we feel we can do each game.”
The man who replaced Almirón in the lineup on Sunday was Julian Gressel. While he’s one of several who could replace the Paraguayan in the Atlanta United starting lineup, he says he’s been taking notes just for this occasion.
“You try to see what [Almirón] does well so you can take it for yourself whenever you play in that role,” Gressel says. “It’s obviously been doing well for him so why not take it for me. But the confidence doesn’t really change, because the whole team has been playing well, not just Miguel. So it’s really more about the team coming together now and obviously making up for a great player that we’ve lost on the field.”
Part of the confidence comes from the form of the back line, which has secured clean sheets in four of their past five matches. Parkhurst points to a team effort and a sense of cohesion that has developed in the team.
“The guys up top do so much defensive work,” he said. “It makes our lives a lot easier in the back, and Leandro has been making a lot of plays in the back, Brad’s been doing part as well. And the rest of us are trying to make plays when we need to make plays, and so far we’re making them.”
The team’s mentality remains as focused as ever, as they continue their march toward a potential playoff berth.
“We have to be mentally prepared, but our focus is on us, it’s about us and our seeding now,” Gressel added. “It’s about going into the playoffs and our form going into the playoffs. I think if we focus on us, bring what we can, and show the qualities that we have then we’ll come out on top.”
The match kicks off at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Tickets are still available here, but if you can’t make it, make sure you tune in on FOX Sports South or stream the match via the FOX Sports GO app.
