Atlanta United manager Frank de Boer describes his team with an analogy of putting oil and gas in the tank of car, which ultimately helps it run.
For him, it’s the same for his club. When the team puts forth effort, specifically on defense, it often yields good results, such as in Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Saint Louis FC in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal. But when it doesn’t, the results aren’t as desirable, as the team has conceded 13 goals in its past four MLS games and compiled a record of 1-2-1 in that span.
“Defending starts with not eight or seven men, it’s 11 men,” de Boer said. “It starts with the whole team, not just, you have four defenders and a goalkeeper you have to deal with and try to get a clean sheet. It’s not working like that.”
De Boer’s club has the challenge of facing on the road Sunday a Seattle Sounders club that has its players who competed in the Gold Cup and Copa America returning. Of those players, de Boer mentioned Nicolás Lodeiro, who scored two goals in his first game back from international duty with Uruguay on July 6 in a 2-1 win over the Columbus Crew.
But the manager is confident in his team’s ability after the win Wednesday. De Boer said he thought his players were on the same page with their ability to press, receive proper balls from behind and be on time defensively.
“If we do that against any other team, OK, we will concede goals, 100 percent, but less than we have to,” de Boer said. “I think everybody felt it after the game. This is what we want. So hopefully we can continue to do that, I’m convinced a lot of times we will get a clean sheet.”
But de Boer and his players recognize that the game likely will be fast-paced against a team that is talented -- scoring 29 goals on the season -- and vying for a postseason push, currently ranked No. 3 in the MLS Western Conference.
“It’s going to be a battle. We’re going to have go out there and run the road, and we have to get some points,” forward Justin Meram said. “We have to lock in from the first minute and understand that this is how we play at home, how can we play like that on the road.”
But much like a car, if the oil and gas are in place, things will run smoothly, according to de Boer.
“If we do that, I have confidence in a good result,” de Boer. “If we don’t put that effort in, it’s going to be very hard.”
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