Head Coach Tata Martino says all of his players are fully focused on the first match against the Houston Dynamo this weekend, but was tight-lipped about how he would be replacing the injured Ezequiel Barco on the left wing.
“It’s a shame because [Barco]’s been working hard in training ever since he joined us after missing a few days in preseason,” Martino said, through a translator. “Tito [Villalba] was out for most of the preseason games, so the normal thing would be to put Tito into the lineup and see how the rest pieces together.”
Atlanta United fans have spent the past few days debating who should fill in on that left wing, but Coach Martino urged reporters to remember that there are several players fighting for first-team minutes, and their opportunities will be down to their performance.
“We have an interesting roster, an important roster, and we have young guys on the team, he said. “Andrew Carleton, Brandon Vazquez and also Romario Williams who just came up from the second division. We have high expectations for all of them, it’s just up to them.”
There was good injury news, though, in other areas of the field. He said players who were fighting their way back to full fitness at the end of the Charleston preseason trip are progressing well, and that there could be a key play returning to the back line.
“Michael Parkhurst is doing well,” he said. “He has been training with us for two weeks now so he’s going to travel with the team.”
Martino did single out another new addition to the squad for specific praise, saying U.S. international Darlington Nagbe is fitting seamlessly into his new environment. And don’t count him out completely as a possible candidate to fill in for Barco on the wing.
“First, [Darlington]’s a very technically gifted player, and second, he’s a very smart player, so he’s adapted to the squad very well. I think his most comfortable position is to either side of the central midfielder, whether that be Jeff or Chris. But he can also play left wing.”
Whoever does make the starting lineup, the red, black and gold will have to be at their very best against a team with one of the strongest home records in the league last season in the Houston Dynamo. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. EST on Univision, or you can follow along on either of our radio partners, 92.9 the Game or La Mejor Radio.
