Atlanta United hit the highway for sport one in a best-of-three MLS Cup playoffs sequence in opposition to Columbus Crew, inspiring head coach Gonzalo Pineda to problem his gamers within the particular person battles they’re going to face at Decrease.com Discipline.
One essential particular person for Atlanta, the MLS assists chief Thiago Almada, is ready to overlook the competition after being despatched off within the second half in opposition to FC Cincinnati on Determination Day.
Almada stands because the 5 Stripes’ finest participant and integral to how Pineda desires his aspect to function, making a query of: Will Pineda select one other participant to play in his position, or will he change the formation up completely for sport one earlier than Almada is again for sport two?
The top coach defined that there’s one participant particularly that might grow to be Atlanta’s quantity 10 for a sport:
“Yeah, it is one of many potentialities. Once more, it is actually laborious to copy precisely the standard that Thiago has. So, we’ve to rely extra on the workforce,” Pineda mentioned when requested in regards to the Georgia worldwide Saba Lobjandize taking up a extra inventive position.
The previous Seattle Sounders assistant additionally went on to say that the 5 Stripes attempt to play as extra of a workforce than counting on one sole participant, however that the 22-year-old’s particular person high quality helps a lot within the remaining third.
“We usually do this (enjoying as a workforce). However particularly for that space of the sphere, the place Thiago simply takes care of that space, and is inventive. However we’ll give you a superb plan.”
Atlanta scored 66 targets throughout your complete common season, solely second-best to their first spherical opponents Columbus Crew. Each groups wish to play the sport on their phrases with possession, suffocating groups deep in their very own half.
“It is a good battle, by way of techniques, by way of gamers, as nicely… [There’s] related rosters, related concepts… at instances when this [matchup] occurs I say it is as much as the gamers. It is much more as much as, you recognize, ‘that is my particular person battle right here,'” he mentioned.
“Who’s gonna win that battle? Who’s gonna need it extra? Who actually desires to succed? At instances it is about that, in these sort of video games the place you in all probability neutralize one another with techniques,” he added.
Sport one is ready for November 1 at Decrease.com Discipline, as Atlanta appears to be like to upset the Crew with out their star midfielder.