For the first time this season, Atlanta United will play a midweek MLS match. The 5-Stripes' matchup with New England Revolution comes as the end of a three-game homestand in MLS play — and in the midst of packed schedule of fixtures.
Head coach Tata Martino and his side are welcoming the crowded sequence, with each match being a new opportunity to gain footing on the season. The 5-Stripes are progressing in their play but haven't earned the results to cement that progress. Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. ET (on both Apple TV and FS1), they'll kick off searching for a win to right the ship.
Availability report
Miguel Almirón will miss his second consecutive match with a knee injury. and Martino
Steven Alzate and Sergio Santos remain out with lower body injuries, and Tomás Jacob is an addition to the report with a lower leg injury. Jacob played a full 90 minutes against Nashville, so a midweek match may be an opportunity to rest and get to 100%.
Player |
Injury |
Status |
Miguel Almirón |
Knee |
Out |
Steven Alzate |
Adductor |
Out |
Tomás Jacob |
Lower leg |
Questionable |
Sergio Santos |
Calf |
Out |
A bright spot in Sanchez
Cooper Sanchez's surge has been a welcome and surprising development for the 5-Stripes. It's not often that 18-year-olds are consistent starters at the professional level. Even the midfielder himself said his goal for the season was to make five starts — it's April, and he's made seven.
"To be at this point is obviously mind blowing to me," Sanchez said. "If you asked me at the start of the year, I would say no chance."
He's still got classes to finish up to graduate high school, but Sanchez is pulling off the balancing act and showing true development all the while. The youngster attributed that faith that Tata puts in him to his commitment to growth in whatever avenue possible.
"I think I'm a selfless player, in a sense," Sanchez said. "I do the dirty work pretty well. Just listening to the guys around me, learning still and working hard."
One of Sanchez's biggest personal focuses has been his physicality. Though he's used to being slightly undersized, especially now as an 18-year-old facing veterans, he's made an effort to match the physicality MLS play demands. You see it the way he gets stuck in tackling, pressing onto opposing players when they have their back turned to him, never letting things get too comfortable.
With a midweek match to come Wednesday, there's no telling what lineup Martino and his staff will rollout, but Sanchez has earned the right to be in serious consideration every single matchday.
"It's better to have games because you can change the momentum of the season in one game," Sanchez said. "I think that's what we're trying to do, and we're working as a team together. We're going to go out there tomorrow and go to win. No idea has changed. The run of form hasn't been great, but we stick together and we keep fighting."
New day, now New England
Turning the page to another Eastern Conference foe, the 5-Stripes run into fifth place New England Revolution. It's a team they've had recent success against at home, having scored 22 goals and conceded 10 in their last nine home fixtures against the Revolution.
But leaning on history isn't what will earn Atlanta United a much-needed result. Their ability to execute the gameplan, particularly on the offensive end, will dictate that.
"We were analyzing the last match and we're noticing that we're arriving into three quarters of the field well," Martino said in Spanish Tuesday. "But in that last quarter of the field, we're lacking a bit of clarity."
As Martino has referenced often lately, he's seen his team improve greatly in its passing and buildup. El Profe has emphasized decision making and movement as the next step to breaking down defenses and opening the floodgates.
Martino is insistent that his side needs to show mental fortitude, especially after conceding. He broke down the Nashville match in 30 minutes segments, saying the first 30, his team had control, the next 30, the match was even, and the last 30 went to Nashville.
The next step for Atlanta United is taking these phases of success and stretching them out over the course of a full match.
"The fundamental challenge of this game is to be able to be better, to be superior emotionally, than them in this match," Martino said. "For me, that's the key."
