Atlanta United players always embrace the chance to interact with the fans, and two of the squadās younger players took full advantage of that. In a live Q&A session presented by Chick-Fil-A, Brandon Vazquez and Miles Robinson answered questions about everything under the sun, including their path to professional soccer, the World Cup and their lives in Atlanta. Watch the full stream above, or or check out some of the highlights below:
Q: When did you start playing soccer and when did you realize it could be a career?
Miles: Iāve been playing since I was really young. For me, it was getting recruited to go to Syracuse. Iāl never forget that.
Brandon: I started playing when I was 3, my big break was probably when I started playing with Xolos in Tijuana. I lived in San Diego, crossed the border every day for training and then crossed it again every day to come back. It was brutal the lineā¦ I would have to be out the door by 5 for 7am training. Making it to first division there was big for me. One piece of advice Iād give to a kid with young ambitions is keep working every single day. Never get lazy, always do more than anybody else. It was just a passion for me, every day I woke up and thatās what I wanted to do.
Q: Whatās the best part about playing for Atlanta United and what do you guys like to do around Atlanta?
Miles: I like the city a lot, thereās a lot to do in Atlanta. Obviously the fans are awesome, best fans in the league by far and you can just see that every time we go on an away game. We always go to food spots, TopGolf is always there. Ponce City Market and Krog Street Market, Ladybird, thereās so many places here to have a good time.
Brandon: For me the best part about being on this team is coming to the training ground every day, itās just spectacular. The field, the training facility, everything, it just motivates us.
Q: How do Atlanta United fans compare to the rest of the league and whatās your favorite stadium chant?
Miles: Itās so much better, itās just the facts. When you play at home at MBS then you go away to a place where there arenāt even half the fans there it doesnāt even compare.
Brandon: Itās just everything. The stadium, training ground, fans, thereās nothing more we could want to be honest. My favorite chant is the Atlanta United call and response, it just gets so loud.
Q: Whoās the biggest joker and whoās the best dressed on the team?
Brandon: Brad may be the biggest joker on the team.
Miles: Brad, McCann, Jeffā¦ Mikeyās always fooling around. The team has plenty of jokers. Whoās the best dressed on the team.. it could be Brandon. This guy takes his swag seriously, heās always got something fresh on.
Q: Whoās your pick for the World Cup?
Miles: I want Brazil or France to win the World Cup. They have the best rosters, but I donāt know if they can pull it off. Itāll be tough. Personally I donāt want Germany or Spain. They have good players but I donāt think they deserve it this round.
Brandon: Thatās exactly what I was going to say. Iām expecting a lot out of Brazil. I talked a little smack to Julian and Kevin about the Germany/Mexico game, you have to!
Miles: Yeah they were pretty mad though, they didnāt really want to talk about it.
Q: How much do you miss Anton Walkes?
Brandon: I talk to him all the time, weāre still in touch. But yeah I do miss him.
Miles: Shout out Anton!