The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Martino gives picks for MLS All-Star game
‘It’s important news for me in this point in my career. I’m really happy.’ Ezequiel Barco Atlanta United midfielder, on his first MLS All-Star team
The 13 players on the MLS All-Star roster selected by Atlanta United manager Gerardo Martino were picked because he likes how they play, while also trying to represent as many of the league’s 23 teams as possible.
Martino’s picks were revealed on Friday. The 11 players selected by the fans were released on Monday.
Here is the entire roster, complete with commissioner Don Garber’s two selections, which were Vancouver’s Alphonso Davies and New York Red Bulls’ Bradley-Wright Phillips.
Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Atlanta United), Zack Steffen (Columbus Crew SC).
Defenders: Francisco Calvo (Minnesota United), Laurent Ciman (Los Angeles Football Club), Alphonso Davies (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Matt Hedges (FC Dallas), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls), Michael Murillo (New York Red Bulls), Michael Parkhurst (Atlanta United), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City).
Midfielders: Miguel Almiron (Atlanta United), Ezequiel Barco (Atlanta United), Jonathan dos Santos (LA Galaxy), Alberth Elis (Houston Dynamo), Ignacio Piatti (Montreal Impact), Alexander Ring (New York City FC), Ilie Sanchez (Sporting Kansas City), Diego Valeri (Portland Timbers), Yoshimar Yotún (Orlando City SC), Wilfried Zahibo (New England Revolution).
Forwards: Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto FC), Zlatan Ibrahimović (LA Galaxy), Josef Martinez (Atlanta United), Carlos Vela (Los Angeles Football Club), David Villa (New York City FC), Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls).
Martino admitted that he spent no more time than necessary on the selections because Atlanta United will host Orlando City today at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Martino smiled when asked if the All-Stars can beat Juventus, the opponent for the Aug. 1 game.
“I don’t know,” he said. “We will see. The important
thing is to conserve the spirit of the All-Star game and make it a game that people can enjoy.”
Atlanta United, which leads MLS with 34 points, leads the teams with five selections. Darlington Nagbe was voted in by the fans, but was removed from the roster because of the adductor
injury he suffered in last week’s draw with Portland. The New York Red Bulls, second in the East, are next with three. Sporting KC, which leads the West, had two players, as did LAFC and the L.A. Galaxy.
This should be the second consecutive All-Star game for Atlanta United
standouts Parkhurst and Almiron. It will be the first for the team’s remaining players who were selected.
“I just want to thank all the fans for voting me in and congratulate my teammates as well for all the work that they’ve put in to help me and the team this year,” said Martinez, who leads MLS with 14 goals.
“I’m really happy about it,” Barco said. “It’s important news for me in this point in my career. I’m really happy.”
Martino said there wasn’t any particular player he was looking forward to managing or training.
“We don’t want the guys who we are later going to have to play against to get any better or improve while I’m coaching them,” he said.
A few of the players selected by Martino have played great games against Atlanta United this season.
Ring scored a fantastic goal for NYCFC in a 2-2 draw at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Murillo and Long put in solid shifts, and Wright-Phillips scored two goals (with an assist from Murillo) in the Red Bulls’ 3-1 win over the Five Stripes, which finished the game with 10 players. Calvo was part of a Minnesota team that was defeated by Atlanta United 1-0, but the Loons’ constant pressure was impressive. Zahibo is part of a Revs team that also worked Atlanta United to a 1-1 draw at Gillette and Elis tore up Atlanta United in their season-opening 4-0 loss with one assist and six shots. Of course, Steffen was the hero for the Crew in last year’s playoff loss and Giovinco’s free kick in the final minutes of the regular season finale moved Atlanta United from second place in the East to fourth, which resulted in the playoff game against Columbus.