Atlanta United are set to play their first match after almost three weeks off with the Leagues Cup break. Saturday is the first game in a nine-match stretch to close out the regular season.
Currently, the 5-Stripes sit ninth in the Eastern Conference just in front of Philadelphia, Montréal and Nashville – all teams Atlanta will see down the stretch. But first they will travel to play the Los Angeles Galaxy of the Western Conference on Saturday.
Before they left for the long trip to the West Coast, goalkeeper Brad Guzan and interim head coach Rob Valentino spoke to local media Thursday about using the break as a reset, preparing for the match against Los Angeles, and how newly signed designated player Alexey Miranchuk is adjusting.
Player Availability
Along with the final push to keep a playoff spot, the acquisition and arrival of midfielder Miranchuk has generated energy around the club. He comes only weeks after Atlanta United signed defender Pedro Amador. While Amador has already logged minutes for the squad, including starting against Santos Laguna of Liga MX in a Leagues Cup match, Miranchuk continues to acclimate to his new environment.
When asked during Thursday’s media availability, Valentino said it is a possibility for Miranchuk to see the pitch against L.A. but ultimately it will be up to how the player is feeling. Miranchuk began training with the team on Tuesday.
Valentino also gave an update on striker Daniel Ríos, who came off the pitch against Santos Laguna due to injury. “He will go to L.A. and hopefully be available for the match,” said Valentino.
Since being acquired in March, Ríos has been one of Atlanta’s most offensively productive players. Fans will be able to see who’s in and who’s out against the Galaxy when Atlanta United releases their availability report Friday afternoon.
Resetting for the final nine matches
After a busy few months, with multiple weeks of double matches, the club used this time off to reassess and reset – not only tactically on the pitch but also mentally. Both Guzan and Valentino expressed that though the outcome of Leagues Cup was not what the team wanted, everyone went into the break with a positive mindset.
“For us, it has been a time to hit the reset button and really look at things,” said Guzan. “We have been able to use it to our advantage. We understand the necessity to get points. We understand the urgency.”
Guzan likened the break to a mini preseason with the time off and getting used to a few new faces. The secondary transfer window just ended, and Atlanta United saw some turnover similar to what happened before the beginning of the 2024 season.
Much like how players Bartosz Slisz, Derrick Williams, and Stian Gregersen found their footing, new faces Amador and Miranchuk will look to contribute to the club in the following weeks.
What Alexey Miranchuk brings to the team
Alexey Miranchuk trained for the first time with the team on Tuesday. The club held an introductory press conference for the midfielder where he spoke of his love for hip hop, as well as thanked the fans who showed up for Supporters day.
Despite the quick turnaround from arriving in Atlanta to training for a match, Miranchuk has slotted into the team’s dynamic nicely.
“His quality is evident,” said Guzan. “And you know what he brings to the field. Off the pitch, he speaks great English. We have been trying to help him get settled as much as possible, so that he can focus on the field.”
Miranchuk previously played for Atalanta BC of Italy’s Series A. One of the bright spots of his game is his ability to create scoring chances. He ranked fourth in expected goal contributions last season among players from the world’s top soccer leagues.
“His skillset is different,” said Valentino when asked about how Miranchuk will be deployed compared to players transferred from the club. “They are all different players. With Alexey, the idea is that he can play in higher spaces. He can facilitate for his teammates and hopefully create for himself.”
The goal is for Miranchuk to complement the other offensive players on Atlanta United such as Ríos, Saba Lobjanidze and Jamal Thiaré.
Going out west to face the Galaxy
The Galaxy currently sits at the top of the Western Conference with 49 points. Much like Atlanta, they took advantage of the recent transfer window, and acquired German international Marco Rues. He joins Riqui Puig, Gabriel Pec and Diego Fagúndez to power one of the highest scoring teams in MLS this season.
When asked about if the club game planned for the new arrival, Valentino said that the team will focus on trends showed by the Galaxy rather than focusing on one player.
Atlanta will look to try to use their dominance in possession numbers to exploit some of the areas on the pitch.
“I think every game we play will be difficult, and they are a good opponent,” said Valentino. “So, it is about limiting the space in which they (the Galaxy) can operate. We’ve talked about how we can be very solid defensively and make progression down the field as a team.”
Atlanta will look to get three points on Saturday. Fans not traveling to see the 5-Stripes can catch the 10:30 p.m. ET kickoff on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. As well as listen locally on 92.9 The Game, Sirius XM Channel 157, and La Mejor.
