Atlanta United’s recent offensive performance has earned some well-deserved plaudits after scoring a staggering 19 goals in just five games so far at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. But as the saying goes, it’s defense that wins championships, and the back line has quietly stepped up in a big way.
“I think that we were really attentive defensively today,” center back Leandro González Pirez said through a translator after the Montreal match. “Parts of the game, we defended man to man. You saw we took some risks, but that’s part of how we play. I think that you saw we played pretty well because they only had one shot on goal.”
Atlanta United has now conceded the third-fewest goals in the league, and have earned a clean sheet in four of their past five matches. League veteran Jeff Larentowicz said winning is the most important, but a clean sheet is even better.
“A shutout is a team effort from front to back,” Larentowicz said, “I think that everybody did their part today. You look at the guys up front, the amount of work that they did. Yamil Asad, Julian (Gressel) when he came in – it’s a team effort. Obviously, over the last three or four games, we’ve done really well as a group. I think that that’s a good feeling.”
Head coach Tata Martino says it’s part of a natural gelling process that’s developed through the team’s first year. But he was quick to point out how much the fans – who sold out their 14th straight home game Sunday – are helping push the team on when the pressure rises on the defense.
“First, I want to attribute it to our fans,” head coach Tata Martino said through a translator after the match. “You could see in the second half when Montreal was starting to gain some momentum our fans really stepped up. Second, we are playing well in our new stadium. Third, we have been playing together for a longer period of time now and we are gaining more confidence in our system.”
Perhaps the happiest person about the defensive performances recently is goalkeeper Brad Guzan. After the Revolution game last week when the team allowed no shots, the defense held a potent Montreal attack to just one shot on target Sunday. Guzan said the back line protecting him deserves some long overdue credit.
“That’s what I’m saying let’s talk about the defense! We have guys that can combine and get some unbelievable goals. At the same time, you look at the guys in the back line that provide width, that provide the base for allowing those guys to go do their thing on the attacking side of it. Hats off to the guys in front of me, Parky (Michael Parkhurst), Leandro (González Pirez), Chris (McCann) and Anton (Walkes). They are putting their bodies on the line in terms of tackles, blocks, and at the same time, starting the attack.”
Atlanta United will try to maintain that defensive solidity on Wednesday night, as the Philadelphia Union come to Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The red, black and gold would clinch a playoff spot with a win, so make sure you’ve reserved your spot here.
