At Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground, the 5-Stripes are hard at work getting ready for another playoff test. They are coming off shocking the soccer world by eliminating a star-riddled Inter Miami team in the Round One Best-of-3 Series of the Audi 2024 MLS Playoffs. Atlanta will be heading back to Florida, but this time to face off against Orlando City SC in a single elimination Conference Semifinals match on Sunday, November 24.
Defender Stian Gregersen and MLS veteran Dax McCarty spoke to local media about how the team is gearing up for the clash against one of their regional rivals.
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Dealing with the November international break
With momentum on their side following a huge game 3 win, Atlanta United looked to get right back on track. But November 11th through 19th marked another FIFA international break for the league. Seven of Atlanta’s players were called to play for their respective home countries, most notably starters Saba Lobjanidze, Bartosz Slisz, and Alexey Miranchuk.
This is not the first time the 5-Stripes have gotten a statement win before the season halts for an international break. But MLS veteran Dax McCarty said the team is taking a no-excuses approach to the break.
“It is not easy, but it is not like every team does not have to deal with it,” said McCarty. “It is the right situation because if we didn’t take these breaks, we (Atlanta) would be missing five or six of our best players.”
Several players who were away for international duty are back in Atlanta, defender Stian Gregersen being one of them. He represented Norway and made a starting appearance in the 5-0 victory over Kazakhstan.
“In the moment, you want to keep going,” said Gregersen about the international break. “But it is what it is. We just have to keep up good training habits. Today had very good intensity.”
Going back to Florida
Orlando City SC and Atlanta United are no strangers to each other. The two clubs have played a total of 21 matches against each other over the years. But this Conference Semifinal match will be special because it is the first time these squads will meet in the playoffs.
McCarty, who grew up only 30 minutes from Orlando in Winter Park, has spent a lot of time in his home state over the past few weeks.
“I would say probably around the same number, about 40 or 50. Yeah, it's very cool,” said McCarty when asked if he would have family at the match on Sunday. “I mean, this whole, this whole last month, you know, with this little thing we have going on with the Florida teams, it's been nice for me going back down there and being able to be back down there.”
The match is set to be a good one with the known rivalry between the two clubs. Atlanta won both matches against Orlando this season. Their 2-1 win on Decision Day this year is the most important game up until this point.
Like many of the teams that the 5-Stripes played down the stretch, Orlando is a heavy-possession team. They will look to dominate with the ball, especially at home. When asked about how Atlanta would go about the tactical shift from playing Inter Miami to Orlando City, McCarty emphasized the importance of staying compact.
“It's a fine balance. You don't want to allow them to have too much of the ball, because then we get frustrated… and we're just going to have to be sharp in all phases of the game, in transition and possession, because if we can keep the ball away from them, they don't want that, they'll get a little bit frustrated.”
New Lease on Life
The club will have several more practices before leaving for the Sunday match against Orlando. Atlanta United have grown used to playing on the road and needing results. Four of their last five games, one of which was at Inter&Co Stadium on Decision Day, have been away matches. They have won three of those four matches.
Many have asked what is the thing or things that changed for this Atlanta United team over the past month. From just a 10 percent chance of getting into the playoffs to disrupting everyone’s playoff brackets by upsetting an Inter Miami team that made history during the regular season. It becomes a chicken before the egg sort of situation. Does confidence come from wins or do more wins and proving everyone wrong provide more confidence?
“You can see so much more confidence in the group, so much energy,” said Gregersen. “You can feel the atmosphere around the club and everyone’s on top. I am looking forward to playing this game.”
McCarty echoed Gregersen’s sentiments, calling back to his own long MLS career and how moments like this are the kind every player wishes for.
“I'm savoring every last session; every last minute I get to come in here,” said McCarty. “The chances of us being here were very slim. It's a little bit of a new lease on life, especially for a guy like me, who's calling it at the end of the season. You just hope our young guys and the players that are a core part of this team, that are going to be here for years to come, realize how special moments like this can be.”
Atlanta United will look to keep the Cinderella run going against Orlando. Fans not traveling to Orlando can catch all the action on MLS Season Pass. The match’s earlier kickoff time is at 3:30 PM, so plan accordingly. Fans can also listen to the game on local radio 92.9 The Game (English) and La Mejor (Spanish).
We defied all odds. Now, our run continues. Get hype and join us at SweetWater Brewery to watch as Atlanta United takes on Orlando City SC in the Eastern Conference semifinals in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs.
