Training Notebook: Butterflies

The two-week trip to Mexico, the six preseason scrimmages, the offseason workouts, the new player acquisitions, the traveling, the meetings, the film watching, even the last half of the 2021 season itself – it’s all led to this.  

The MLS regular season is here. Atlanta kicks off 2022 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 27 against Sporting Kansas City. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. EST.  

With the match just days away, the team appeared focused during Wednesday’s training. The play was aggressive and intense. During one of the scrimmages, the two sides were pressing and competing so fiercely neither team could create many chances. For one play, head coach Gonzalo Pineda praised the attacking players for pressuring the defender into the corner, which led to a takeaway and a chance in the final third.  

Although some players weren’t present (Thiago Almada, Santiago Sosa, Franco Ibarra are still working on their visas with Argentina), the intensity at practice showed the mindset of the team as it heads into the first week of MLS play. 

Here are a few more nuggets from training on Wednesday:

February 27 

Two players were available to the media after training: goalkeeper Brad Guzan and defender Andrew Gutman. Both players got a chance to share how they’re feeling about the first match of the season coming up. 

Even Guzan, a veteran who’s been with the club all six seasons, feels something ahead of Sunday’s match. 

“There’s obviously a buzz,” Guzan said. “It’s nice to now go into the real deal. Preseason is good and great, but there’s nothing like a match day, there’s nothing like 70,000 right in the stadium and the atmosphere that we’re luckily able to call home. We can’t recreate that here in training and we can’t recreate that in preseason. So that part is always exciting, and it always gives you butterflies. If you don’t have those butterflies, then you’re probably missing that little bit of something that gives you that cutting edge.” 

While Guzan has been with Atlanta United for several years, on the other end of the spectrum is Gutman. This season is Gutman’s first with Atlanta United, returning to his parent club after being on loan to the New York Red Bulls for the 2021 season. 

Although playing a regular season opener with the 5-Stripes will be new, Gutman is a seasoned player. He made his MLS debut in 2019 with Cincinnati FC and will be entering his fourth season in MLS. During that time, he’s played in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, although never on the other side. 

“It’s definitely going to be a different feel for me with 70,000 behind you as opposed to 70,000 against you,” he said. “So, I’m really looking forward to it.”

Andrew Gutman 

When asked which player has had a good preseason, a player that fans should look out for, Guzan spoke highly of one new piece to Atlanta’s roster. His counterpart in media availability on Wednesday, Gutman. 

“Seeing him being as productive as he’s been, both in training and in games in terms of his work rate, his cohesiveness with Miles [Robinson], with George [Campbell], with center midfielders, our attacking players, that part should be exciting,” Guzan said. 

In preseason, Gutman has been playing left fullback, the position previously held by Homegrown defender George Bello. This offseason, Bello went on to pursue the opportunity to play in Europe, transferring to Arminia Bielefeld in Bundesliga, a top-tier soccer league in Germany. 

Even with Atlanta United losing a major piece like Bello, Gutman is sliding into that spot fairly seamlessly. Guzan said the 25-year-old left-footed defender brings toughness to the backline, describing Gutman’s quality as a “nastiness.”  

“It’s not just about ticky tacky football and making everything look pretty,” Guzan said. “You need somebody that’s going to maybe boot the opposition striker into the 10th row or something, and he’s got that about him, and you need that. Not in a dirty way, but you need that nastiness. And he’s got it.” 

Gutman followed Guzan on Wednesday and was asked directly about what Guzan’s remarks on his quality. He chalked it up to learning to play with the Red Bulls, a team that doesn’t play the prettiest style of soccer. But the most important thing he learned from the Red Bulls was how to grind out games. 

“On any given day, you’re not going to be at your best and you could have a really, really off day," he said. "But if you can just find a way to win in this league, it’s going to go a long way throughout the year, and that’s something that I can bring to this team."

The Backline 

With two defensive players available to the media, there was a heavy focus on other aspects of the team’s backline. 

Campbell will likely line up alongside Robinson on Sunday as the team’s two center backs. Alex De John, who had a good scrimmage and played the full 90 minutes against Celaya FC, will also available. Alan Franco, the counterpart to Robinson for significant portions of 2021, will be unavailable on Sunday due to a red card suspension. 

Campbell is a Homegrown player who saw some minutes with the first team in 2021 after beginning the season with Atlanta United 2. He started seven matches with the first team and on Sept. 10, 2021, he scored his first career MLS goal against Orlando City. 

“His growth this preseason has been tremendous,” Guzan said. “I think he’s certainly one that we’re excited for going forward, not just for game one but certainly within the club and he’s earned that right.” 

Another member of Atlanta’s defensive unit was back at training today. Brooks Lennon, who’s been nursing an ankle injury he sustained during January camp with the U.S. men’s national team, participated in training. 

Lennon was an integral part of Atlanta United in 2021 and was one of the club’s most consistent players. He started 31 out of 33 matches in 2021 and played over 2700 minutes, the second most out of anyone on the team, including a full 90 in the playoff match against New York City FC.

Intensity… and Fun 

The intensity in the play on Wednesday showed the team’s focused mindset. But when it comes to playing with intensity, as Guzan said, it’s not just about running hard without any direction. It’s about doing so with a purpose, with intention. 

“It’s certainly important to have a good start to the game, but we have to do it in an intelligent way,” Guzan said. 

In preseason, Gutman has already shown chemistry with several players. On the left side working with Tyler Wolff, in the midfield working off Thiago Almada and playing the ball up top to Josef Martínez.  

Part of that process is learning a new style of play and getting to know everyone’s tendencies. He’s trying to take it day-by-day and learn as much as he can. But so far, Gutman has been able to fit in well and combine with those attacking players.  

“It’s been an interesting transition for me,” Gutman said. “I don’t think I’ve played with this amount of talent on a team in a long time, so it’s fun to be with really high-quality players.” 

When those high-quality players are working together, it can be fun to watch. And we’ve seen glimpses of it during the team’s preseason: the own goal created on the team’s possession against Celaya FC, the back-heel assist from Mattheus Rossetto that set up a goal for Martínez.  

Though they’re only glimpses, those moments so far in 2022 have reminded Guzan of a special era in the club’s history. 

“We got a glimpse of it down in Mexico and you start to have a real sense of what 2017-2018 kind of felt like in terms of our attacking players and guys that want to be vertical and go that way,” he said. 

Those are the types of moments that get us excited for a new season with Atlanta United. The fast-paced play, the goal scoring, the supporters march, the Golden Spike, the 5-Stripes on the pitch at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the chants from the crowd. It’s all very exciting – and it’s all just a few days away.  

“If you’re not having fun, you’re in the wrong business,” Guzan said. “I don’t want to see Josef defending our box. I want Josef, the train horn going off, fireworks going off, and him being pissed at the crowd and whatnot. Because that means goals are going in and that’s a good day for all of us.” 

Join the rowdy and proud when Atlanta United hosts Sporting Kansas City on Sunday, Feb. 27. Stay tuned to ATLUTD.com and ATLUTD on Twitter, and get your ticket to the home opener here.