Coming off a 5-0 win against LAFC and their fourth straight victory overall over the weekend, confidence is riding high in the Atlanta United locker room. But there’s no time to celebrate, with the players fully aware there’s a stern test to come this weekend against undefeated NYCFC.
“They’re a good team,” Michael Parkhurst told reporters Wednesday. “They’re just balanced all around.”
That balance shows in the standings, where NYCFC remain unbeaten and just one point above Atlanta United in first place in the Supporters’ Shield race. But they haven’t come to Mercedes-Benz Stadium yet, where the Five Stripes have been nearly unstoppable since moving into their permanent home last year.
“The field plays in our favor because of the size, because of the speed of it,” Parkhurst said. “When you have guys like Tito [Villalba] or Miguel [Almirón] dribbling on turf, they just take off and are impossible to defend one on one. I think the combination of those two things, and obviously we get a boost from the fan support as well.”
“It’s the atmosphere,” added Leandro González Pirez, who’s available for selection after serving his one-match suspension. “The fans come to all the games and the stadium sells out. This is a key for us because we have extra motivation.”
Part of Atlanta United’s hot run is the depth in their roster, with several young players stepping up to fill absences created by injuries and suspension so far this year. It’s a vital part of the club’s growth in year two, and puts pressure on any team coming into the red, black and gold’s home turf.
“I just think teams know we’re talented and they come in here and know they have to perform,” Darlington Nagbe said. “I thought LAFC came in here and had a good game. That’s not the style we want to play but we’re showing we can win in a number of ways.”
“I think the depth is there,” Parkhurst said, “and it’s important to have if we’re going to make a run at being at the top of the table all year long and try to make a run in the Open Cup and various tournaments.”
While Atlanta United have been strong in their home fortress, NYCFC has plenty of weapons of their own. From David Villa and new DP Jesus Medina up top to Maxi Morales in midfield and a strong defense as well, it’s a balanced team from front to back.
“They are star players, they are really good,” Pirez said.” We have to pay a lot of attention because if not, they are very dangerous. We have to have a lot of communication with Parky [Michael Parkhurst], Chris [McCann] or Miles [Robinson].”
“[Morales] is definitely a guy that we have to make sure to pressure," Parkhurst explained. "The less time those guys have to pick up their heads, the easier it is for us to pick up [David] Villa because his movement is so good. But we’ll be able to watch them tonight, they have a game tonight and if their starters are out there it will be a good tool for us to watch tonight.”
While the team is keeping perspective and not putting too much focus on one match during a long year, they are acknowledging the importance of getting a win over a top team this early in the season.
“Yeah just to set the tone, it’s a big game for both teams,” Nagbe said. “It’s just the beginning of the season, but it sets the tone for the games to come in the future.”
“For sure we’ll be up for it because they’re one of the best teams in the league,” added Parkhurst. “Right now they’re right at the top and they have been for the last few years, so we definitely know it will be a challenging game.”
Both teams will be ready for this top-of-the-table clash, and it’s one no Atlanta United fan will want to miss. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. Sunday, with the match set to be broadcast on FOX Sports 1. Tickets to the match are still available, so make sure you’ve secured yours here.
