Atlanta United’s offseason was a busy one, with new head coach Ronny Deila and new Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director Chris Henderson eager to add new talent to their roster.
The first of their series of acquisitions was Mateusz Klich, a 34-year-old Polish international and midfielder from D.C. United.
As the preseason gets into full swing, we asked him 17 questions to help 17s learn more about their new midfield maestro:
Why Atlanta United?
Atlanta United is one of the best organizations in MLS, that's for sure. They have a goal to win the league this year, and I want to be part of it. It's a good group of players. I know Derrick Williams from D.C. [United], so he was also helpful. It's a good club, a great organization, training ground, stadium. I'm here to help.
Derrick Williams said you are one his closest friends in football. Can you describe your friendship?
We met in D.C., and we had a common friend in England who we both played with. He connected us. I don’t know, sometimes you just don’t have to do anything. It clicked. [Derrick and I] have a really good relationship on and off the pitch, and we had a great time in D.C., and I was excited to play with him again. He’s a really good player. Good vibes.
Do you remember your earliest memory of playing soccer?
I was playing around my house and kicking against walls, and my mom wasn’t really happy because I was hitting flowers and everything at home. Those were good memories because I always remember myself with a ball.
Can you tell us about your lifestyle in the town where you grew up?
All of my family is very into sports. My mom’s side of the family were professional swimmers. I used to train swimming and football when I was younger. I would go to swim in the morning, go to school, and then football in the afternoon. Obviously, I wasn’t a very good swimmer, but I was forced to. I did enjoy it, even if it was 6am swim classes. The training was good. It helped me for the future, 100%. Then, when I was 13, I moved to the football school. I was pretty young when I moved from home. Since then, everything was good. I’ve always been focused on football.
If you weren’t playing professional football, what would you be and why?
That’s a good question, I don’t have answer for that. My dad was a football player, and I always wanted to play football. Since I remember, I always had a football with me, everywhere. I would probably finish school, and honestly, I don’t know.
Do you have a pre-match routine or any rituals you like to do?
I’ve got a couple of little ones. I listen to music like everyone else. I tend to put my left shinpad on first and then the right one.
What kind of music do you like?
Mostly Polish rap. I listen to American rap a little bit too. I kind of like country music now too.
What’s your favorite TV show or series of all time?
That’s a tough one, because there’s Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, How I Met Your Mother and other comedy shows. If I had to go with one, I think I would go Game of Thrones.
Is there anything you’re watching right now?
I actually started watching the Mr. Beast Games on Amazon yesterday. It’s pretty funny. I think I’ve watched everything. I really need something new. I watched Breaking Bad and a couple series twice or three times because they’re good.
Who is your idol, whether in football or in life?
I always used to look up to Zinedine Zidane as a football player, and since I always wanted to be a football player. I was always watching football with my dad and watching the best players in the world play, and I wanted to be one of those players.
You mentioned Zidane, who else do you model your playing style after?
I think just him. There were many midfielders. When I was younger, the Real Madrid team, the Galácticos. They were the best players in the world, and he was just unbelievable. I always wanted to be like him. No one ever reached that level, I think, in midfield, because there was art to what he was doing.
How do you utilize your fashion and style to express yourself off the pitch?I just wear what I like. I like fashion, and I like a lot of brave outfits. I did wear a couple in the past. I think fashion is a good way to express yourself, and you don’t have to wear the same stuff that everyone else is wearing. Just be yourself, which can be tricky at times, but it is what it is. The boys were laughing at me a lot of times about my fits.
You’ve lived in a lot of countries, Poland, The Netherlands, Germany, England, and now the United States. What has living in so many places across the world taught you about life?
A lot. I travel a lot, even in the offseason. Me, my wife and my daughter, we love to travel places. This is the fifth country I’ve lived in, different country, different culture, different language. I learned how to speak German, English. I understand Dutch a lot. It’s good experience for the future and for my wife and my daughter. She speaks better English than I do. It’s funny because, when I read her books, she corrects me all the time, and she’s six. It’s good experience and it’s a great adventure. You play football and you have life too, so you have to enjoy life too.
What’s your favorite English saying?
There’s one good one. I like to say that someone is “so tight that he cries with one eye”.
What do you think of the rest of the Atlanta sports scene after going to a Hawks game?
I’m a big NBA fan. I’m happy to have a playoff team, because I think the Hawks are going to be in the playoffs. I can’t wait to watch.
What do you think of the Polish midfield combination of you and Bartosz Slisz? Did you guys talk at all before coming here?
This is I think my 14th, 15th season abroad, and I think I’ve played with a Polish player maybe once for a short period of time. I think this is going to be a good connection because we can communicate [well].
You’ve only been in Atlanta a short period of time, but what do you think about the squad?
It’s good quality, and it’s going to be a really good team next season. I think we can win the league because the boys proved it last year. They were in the playoffs and had good games. Whenever you improve the team, you expect better results.
