Everyone has their own way of getting their mind right. For Matt Edwards, it's golf.
"I'm getting there," Edwards said. "I'm addicted to it, the thrill of getting better at something I love."
A sport that's just as much about mental acuity as physical, Edwards says he's learned to sharpen his focus in soccer from his time playing.
"Even with soccer, I'm a big power person. [It's] staying concentrated on a ball, clearing your head," Edwards said. "[Golf has] actually been huge for me in terms of concentration on the field and being relaxed, not tensing up, because that's when you can mess up."
That mental work is massive, especially for moments like the one Atlanta United find themselves in at the moment. The 5-Stripes know they can't let a tough loss over the weekend bleed into their process this week in preparation for Philadelphia Union. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday, Aug. 1 at Subaru Park in Chester, Pa. as Atlanta will look to take down their Eastern Conference foes for the second time this season.
Additionally, Atlanta United Unified will play its first away match of the season against Philadelphia Union Unified. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET, tune in at atlutd.com/live.
Clarity on the course
Edwards and some other teammates have taken to bonding over meals and golf rounds.
Will Reilly is one of the participators, and he spoke Tuesday in a very accountable manner after Saturday's loss. He owned his marking leading to New England's second goal and spoke about "critical battles and critical situations".
His first instinct is to have conversations, and those can go down anywhere, including on the course.
"I talk to the guys I'm closest with on the team, the other guys, the staff as well," Reilly said. "That certainly helps ... We've made some strides, but we've still got a long ways to go."
Those rounds are part of the team's larger philosophy of letting challenges bring them together, not separate them.
"Because that's when the people closest to you can help you get out of it," Edwards said.
The golfer group includes Reilly, Jayden Hibbert, Luke Brennan and Adrian Gill, along with one more teammate, one who's a tad older than the rest. Fafa Picault, who Edwards affectionately dubbed "unc", is leading a culture change with the experience of a decade-long MLS career.
Picault took ownership of the label, but he did lead by saying he'll still beat any of the younger guys in a race and on the course.
"I think it's been my role in this situation to actually be 'unc' and spend time with the with the younger guys," Picault said. "They're all amazing guys and great talents. Golf has kind of helped us again, not just let off some of that frustration and relax a bit, but at the same time, it's allowed us to get to know each other."
Respecting your elders
Picault's arrival to Atlanta in early 2025 was perhaps a more under-the-radar move, but one that has been critical for the development of the 5-Stripes' young contingent.
"He's the vocal person in the locker room, telling us when it's not good enough," Edwards said. "It's helped us. Every day, he preaches what we need to keep hammering down on, what we need to change as a group and what he's seen in past teams and the teams he's been successful in ... We're changing the culture slowly, but we need to we need to get there."
A veteran knows to play his role, no matter what it may be. Head coach Tata Martino has called on Picault to play up front as the No. 9 in the last two matches. Picault did feature as an out-and-out striker in his pre-MLS days at St. Pauli and Sparta Prague, but since his return to the U.S., he's taken on the pivot to winger.
He said the instincts are there, it just might take more match minutes to gel within Martino's system.
"I think it's something I could easily do and and start getting us some goals from there," Picault said. "Creating chances not just for myself but for other guys as well and stretching defenses out I think will help us to get space for other guys underneath."
Above all, Picault has been in many different locker rooms, even some that have been in similar situations to the one Atlanta United finds itself in. What he's looking to inspire is bigger than any one tactical change.
"I think it's important not just how you approach the game on Saturdays or Wednesdays, but also how we prepare and the winning and competitive mentality with little things and everything that we do throughout [the week]," Picault said. "It's important to implement those things throughout the week and shift that mindset to going into the weekends."
Youngsters on the other end
Atlanta United have given their young talents plenty of run this season, but Philadelphia are seeing their own injection of youth into the squad under new manager Ryan Richter translate to a turnaround in form.
The Union are giving significant minutes to academy products Neil Pierre and Cavan Sullivan. Alongside them, Milan Iloski is providing a different dynamic in their front two.
"[I notice] little differences in how they press and also a difference in the way they're using their second forward at the moment," Martino said. "When they came here, they played with two similar bigger profile forwards, and now Iloski is playing in that second forward role. But he's a player who has more characteristics like a midfielder."
With Saturday's hosts just a point ahead of the 5-Stripes on the season, Atlanta United has a chance to earn a result on the road and move up the table in a late playoff push.
Martino did say that his side won't change their perspective on the match just because of Philadelphia's extra youth. Still, it's safe to say Saturday night's matchup in Pennsylvania won't play out quite like Atlanta United's 3-1 win over Philadelphia back on March 14. Union might be even more willing to press than before.
"Tata's done a good job this week of getting us ready for that," Picault said. "We've worked on some things on the field, how to play out of certain pressure and where guys need to be in order to help relieve the pressure when we do have our defense under that press."
