The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
United, facing quick turnaround, will watch film to prep for Galaxy
Final friendly Wednesday before season opens Feb. 21.
LOS ANGELES — Atlanta United won’t have a lot of time between Sunday’s 2-2 draw at LAFC and Wednesday’s final friendly of the preseason against the L.A. Galaxy. Manager Frank de Boer said most of the preparation may be mental because the first two days after a game are when the players recover.
During the recovery, he said the players are going to watch a
lot of film. “Let’s see those phases where we were good, why we were good and why we were not so good,” he said. “The most important thing is for the players to recognize and execute it in the game.”
Atlanta United will return home on Thursday and open the season Feb. 21 against Herediano in Costa Rica, in its debut in the CONCACAF Champions League.
De Boer liked most of what he saw from Sunday’s draw. Of the 90 minutes, he said he thought the team controlled the middle portion, which is when is took a 2-0 lead in the first 29 minutes on goals from Pity Martinez and Julian Gressel. However, LAFC scored twice in the game’s final 32 minutes to earn the draw, and had a few chances to take a 3-2 lead if not for saves from Brad Guzan.
“We know games are longer than 60-70 minutes and in those moments we have to be sharp and better with the ball,” Guzan said. “Today felt like a real game, plain and simple. Some good challenges, some not so good chal-
lenges. Competitive. Conditions kept the field slick in terms of tempo. All those things are good in the sense (of ) that’s what we are look- ing for to make ourselves better.”
Barco, Robinson again play well: Sunday’s game was going to end in a 2-2 draw because there were just a few seconds remaining, but Ezequiel Barco sprinted down the field before mak- ing a slide tackle. It was an effort that wasn’t needed, but it caught de Boer’s attention.
“It’s good to see,” de Boer said. “He’s eager to learn.”
It was a moment that others on Atlanta United noticed and talked about after Sunday’s friendly at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles.
It was another sign that the Barco Atlanta United’s supporters saw last season isn’t going to be the Barco they will see this season. I t’s a lmost like At l anta United has a new player in the 19-year-old midfielder from Argentina.
For the third preseason game, he was aggressive on offense and disciplined on defense, two things that were inconsistent last year in his first MLS season, when he had four goals and three assists in 26 appearances.
After a strong run down the left channel, Barco won the foul that led to the free kick scored by Pity Martinez to give Atlanta United a 1-0 lead. He followed that with a smart pass to Josef Martinez, whose pass led to Gressel’s goal and a 2-0 lead. If it were a regular-season game, Barco likely would have been given an assist.
Barco wasn’t the only United player who continued to perform almost like a new player. Miles Robinson, a third-year player who had 10 appearances his first two seasons, started in the middle of a three-man backline for the third consecutive preseason game with the first team and again was all over the middle of the field, making tackles or cutting out passes. It was reminiscent of performances made by teammate Michael Parkhurst, who lined up on Robinson’s right on Sunday, the previous two seasons.
Robinson could be considered at fault for LAFC’s first goal because he appeared to fall down or slip on the soaking wet grass in the run-up. De Boer said he thought Robinson was tripped and it could have been a foul.
“Miles again played a fantastic game,” de Boer said.