A rare Thursday off saw Atlanta United out on the pitch at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground Friday morning. The 5-Stripes drilled out specifics ahead of Nashville SC, a match back at Mercedes-Benz Stadium that players and staff are looking at as a get-right game. The midafternoon 2:30 p.m. ET kickoff will be followed by Atlanta United and Nashville SC's Unified match, those teams out on the pitch at MBS for the first time this season.
Having not picked up points in their last three matches, the 5-Stripes are trying to break off a win and loosen up. For head coach Ronny Deila, that means bringing the joy back into the game.
"We need to go in there, and I want to see that we enjoy it," Deila said after training Friday. "I want to see them fresh I want to see them go for it. Then you take whatever comes."
Who's healthy?
The 5-Stripes will have some help in the defense, as Derrick Williams returns from a hamstring injury that kept him sidelined for over a month. The veteran center back will return to try and fortify an Atlanta United defense that has conceded six goals in the last two matches.
It's Friday, and that can only mean one thing: Atlanta United's availability report dropped. Four players were out last week with injuries and a suspension, but now just two appeared on Friday's iteration:
Player | Injury | Status |
Stian Gregersen | Quadriceps | Out |
Tristan Muyumba | Adductor | Out |
Stian Gregersen and Tristan Muyumba will still be missing, key pieces of the spine of the Atlanta United formation. The two suffered their injuries within minutes of each other against Philadelphia Union on the road.
Now that Williams is back healthy, Gregersen's replacement is assured. Muyumba spot's, on the other hand, is up in the air. Jay Fortune has been in a nice patch of play in the last couple of matches, even playing out on the left of the attack against Philadelphia. He could slot back into the defensive midfield alongside one of Mateusz Klich or Bartosz Slisz. The two Polish midfielders may be competing for the final spot in defensive midfield, or they could start together again for the second match in a row.
Red hot Nashville
The Boys in Gold come into the match having scored seven, yes, seven goals in the last match. It catapulted them all the way up to tied for second in MLS with 19 goals on the season. That's the same amount Atlanta United has conceded, tying them for fifth most in the league.
Even more threatening, Nashville has been analytically sound this season as well, matching their goal production with good predictive statistics as well. They're third in MLS with 23.6 expected goals according to MLSSoccer.com.
Defying those trends will start in goal. Brad Guzan's job as commander of defense is just as critical as his shot-stopping responsibilities. He knows that for a turn around to happen, a lot rests on his shoulders, especially as a leader and captain.
"When you look at where they're at in terms of the result they're coming off, we need to be together," Guzan said. "We need to be collective. We need to defend together ... We need to make sure first and foremost the mindset is the appropriate approach in terms of that togetherness, that defensive mentality."
Nashville's biggest threat tactically is their tendency to play balls over the top. Both Guzan and Deila praised their rival's ability to keep up with teams and cover a lot of ground. Former Landon Donovan MLS MVP Hany Mukhtar is always an X-Factor. He has seven goal contributions this season and is fourth in individual xG with 6.89.
"At the end of the day, they run," Guzan said. "They run, they work hard, they run in beyond ... You've got to be able to get someone around Mukhtar, who obviously makes them tick and is good on the ball, can pick a pass. These are all things that we know and understand."
Pink Penny Club
Mateusz Klich, Alexey Miranchuk and Noah Cobb wore pink pennies for most of training. It was a forfeit after they lost a team bonding activity this week. The squad's goal of developing seamless chemistry doesn't just apply on the pitch. The club knows togetherness is a culture and something that's reflected even outside of the training ground.
That unity is a big part of the club's push ahead of Nashville. They know the only way out of this run of form is banding together and getting to work.
Back at home after a two-game road trip, the opportunity is there to make a statement in the Southern Standoff.
"We have something to fight for, and now we have to attack that situation," Deila said. "It's still many, many games to play, but we know that we need to play at our best to get these three points."
Players and coaches have talked a lot about how to better defend their home turf. Deila told players to make it feel like a harsh environment for opposing teams to play in on the pitch.
"Every time we play at [MBS], we're lucky for the support, that we get the atmosphere that's created," Guzan said. "We don't take that for granted by any means. We want to make sure that we give our fans something to cheer about, something to yell about in a good way."
The 17s in the stands have been doing their job, and don't expect anything different come Saturday.
"When we need the fans is even more now," Deila said. "I think they have been unbelievably good when we have played at home. We are disappointed, as I'm sure some of the fans are, that we haven't [got] more points than we have. Everybody has to really understand that we are doing everything to get as [many] points as possible, to get good performances and to improve as quick as possible. It's very, very important that they keep on doing what they're doing, being behind the team. It's us together that can do it. It's all in, all us."
