After a commanding victory against Inter Miami FC, Atlanta United will be back at Mercedes-Benz Stadium to face off against Charlotte FC. The Wednesday 3-1 victory against the Eastern Conference leader was topped off by a brace by the Player of the Matchday, Saba Lobjanidze, as well as a goal by Jamal Thiare.
Looking to continue the momentum gained by the strong win, Atlanta United prepare for one of the three out of five home matches coming up. Midfielder Tristan Muyumba and head coach Gonzalo Pineda spoke to local media about the positive changes made in the match against Inter Miami, and what they can carry over to the match against Charlotte FC.
Tristan Muyumba
Assisting on the first goal scored by Lobjanidze, Tristan Muyumba had a solid match against Miami. He was put on the bench for MLS Team of the Matchday. With the win under their belt, the question is now how they replicate a performance like the one of Wednesday. For Muyumba, it is about taking what went right and building on it, but also acknowledging they still have work to do.
He said that the 5-Stripes must “stay grounded, and not go to high” because soccer is a sport of moments within games.
Though the team is proud of the performance they put out against Inter Miami, Muyumba says that the only way to truly put a stop to the rough patch of play is to turn one win into a string of wins. Consistency is key.
“We trust we can win this game, especially at home,” said Muyumba. “For us and for our fans, it is important to win this game. Of course, we have a good game on Wednesday but the best way to be consistent is to win the next game”
Gonzalo Pineda
Like several of his players, coach Gonzalo Pineda was acknowledged by the league after the match against Inter Miami. The changes made to handle the star power on Miami led to Pineda being Coach of Matchday for matchday 17.
At media on Friday, he spoke on what the win against Miami meant for his group.
“The moment of the season for us is not easy,” said Pineda. “I cannot say we are past that. We need to keep going. We need to keep fighting. But I think it was a good reward for a team that has been fighting and playing well in so many games. When you do well in so many games but don’t get the reward, frustration and lack of confidence comes. What I love about the team is that they were very resilient.”
He expressed hoping that this will be a turning point for the team. That a couple of months down the line, they will be able to look back and say that this is when the season pivoted for the better. But Pineda was very clear to acknowledge that the only way to do that is to continue winning one match at a time.
“We have to focus on the present,” said Pineda. “Today, we focus on the recovery. Tomorrow, we will focus on preparations for the game. On Sunday, we will only be focusing on Charlotte. That was the challenge to them; we did great, and we can all see the positive things we did. The challenge is now can we repeat it.”
The gameplan will likely not be the same since Inter Miami FC and Charlotte FC play different styles to suit their lineup and unique talents. But will remain regardless of the formation put out, is the focus on defense. Both Muyumba and Pineda sang the praises of the three center backs that started against Miami: Stian Gregersen, Derrick Williams, and Luis Abram. Gregersen and Williams have both missed time due to injury and slotting them back into the lineup was crucial for this team.
The match against Charlotte is one of the three next home games in the month of June. The 5-Stripes are normally a team that can count on gaining points at home, but after a rough patch of play, Pineda says it is important for the club to regain their footing at home.
“Massively important, because we have not won at home in a while,” said Pineda when asked about how important a home win is. “I said after the game, I was so impressed by the number of fans in that corner behind the goal. I was moved because before the match, our buses came in front of our fans, and they were all cheering for us. They were showing us so much support and I think that inspired the team. Now, in front of another 40,00, I think they deserve so joy this Sunday. I hope we can bring that.”
Fans not attending the match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium can catch all the action on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, as well as on FOX. They can also tune into local radio 92.9 The Game and La Mejor.
