The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Barco quiet on two-game absence
United midfielder won’t discuss details, sees discipline as ‘a coach’s decision.’
Ezequiel Barco declined to speak about his two-game absence from Atlanta United on Monday, the midfielder’s first interview since the disciplinary action taken by the team.
Barco was not part of Atlanta United’s 18-player availability against the D.C. United and Montreal the past two games. Manager Geraldo Martinez enacted the discipline, saying only it was not for on-field performance.
“Just a coach’s decision,” Barco said through an interpreter at an availability for the upcoming MLS All-Star Game against Juventus at Mercedes-Benz Sta-
dium on Wednesday. “That is all I’m going to say.”
Asked whether it was strange that he would be held out since he played the previous 15 games, Barco again declined to be specific on the matter. “It’s a coach’s decision and I respect that just like every player must,” Barco said.
Martino did not give a timeline on how long Barco would be out. He said only he wanted to see how the 19-year old responded.
Asked what he learned while out, Barco said he would earn his way back into the lineup. “I’m going to keep training and working hard every day to work my way back into the starting 11,” he said.
Barco will play in the MLS AllStar Game despite the team-imposed penalty. He has four goals and one assist in 16 appearances this season.
Parkhurst plans to play Wednesday: Atlanta United captain Michael Parkhurst said his ankle is sore, but he plans on playing in Wednesday’s MLS All-
Star game.
Montreal’s Ignacio Piatti stepped on Parkhurst’s ankle as he was clearing a ball in the first half of the Five Stripes’ 2-1 win last week. Parkhurst returned and finished the game. He said he would take it easy Monday and test the ankle today.
Wednesday will be Parkhurst’s second consecutive All-Star game and the sixth in his career.
“Each year the event gets bigger and bigger and the players year-round get better and better,” he said. “The events are fun. They keep you busy. It’s a good time.”
Parkhurst said he has enjoyed showing some of the All-Stars around Atlanta United’s $60 million training center in Marietta.
“I think guys are appreciating what we have here,” he said.
Parkhurst may be one of the under-appreciated defenders in MLS. The Five Stripes have the largest goal difference (plus-22) in the league. Parkhurst has started each game.
“He’s just a smart player,” Dallas’ Matt Hedges said. “As a defender sometimes you see the guys who make tackles, but he’s always in the right spot. He doesn’t need to do that.”
Some stars missing from All-Star game: Juventus will play the All-Star game without newly added star Cristiano Ronaldo. The MLS AllStars will be without Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The former Juventus star, who now plays for the L.A. Galaxy, withdrew Sunday night after scoring a hat trick to send Orlando City packing, 4-3.
Tigres tie-in: Atlanta United’s Andrew Carleton has an interesting tie to Tigres, the opponent today in the MLS All-Star Homegrown Game at the Five Stripes’ training facility in Marietta. Carleton, an 18-year-old native of Powder Springs, was on trial with Tigres when he was 13. Because Carleton didn’t yet have a passport and Atlanta didn’t have an MLS team, he was looking for options as a pro.
While on trail with Manchester City, he got hooked up with Tigres. He said he trained for 10 days and then returned to train for three to four more weeks.
Carleton became Atlanta United’s first Homegrown signing. He has made one MLS start. He and Lagos Kunga will be two players on the Homegrown team, coached by Atlanta United Academy Director Tony Annan. The game against the Tigres UANL Under-20 team will be at 8 p.m. and will be televised by Univision Deportes.