Atlanta United's Julian Gressel may have locked up the MLS Rookie of the Year award with a goal and an assist in Wednesday's 3-0 win against Philadelphia at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The victory clinched a spot in the MLS playoffs for the expansion team. Playing in place of the injured Miguel Almiron, Gressel's goal was his fourth and his assist was his ninth, moving him into second in league history for most by a rookie. He's one behind leader Clint Mathis, an Atlanta native.
Manager Gerardo Martino has no doubt that Gressel should win the award.
“He totally deserves it,” Martino said after the win. “I thought he played an excellent game tonight. Not just by looking at what he did on the field, but you have to understand what we ask of him as a coaching staff. Today, he did everything exactly how we asked him. I think looking at all of the players who are in their first season of the MLS that he definitely deserves the award.”
If he felt any pressure trying to replace Almiron, whom Josef Martinez said is the team’s MVP with nine goals and 13 assists, Gressel didn’t show it on Wednesday. He worked hard on defense, particularly in the first half, to create shooting opportunities for his teammates. He also sprung Josef Martinez for a shot with a long, line-splitting pass, early in the half.
“It was just playing within the game,” Gressel said. “I kind of knew what Tata (Martino) wanted from me in that role. Obviously, I’ve been watching Miguel a lot over there. Obviously, I try to pick up on some things that he does well. I still didn’t play my best game of the season, I think. I had some good moments and some not-so-good moments but overall, with the goal and the assist, I guess pretty productive on that score sheet.”
Gressel’s reward came with his goal, which exemplified some of the reasons the team selected him eighth in the SuperDraft. He was projected to go later in the first round.
With Leandro Gonzalez Pirez on the ball near midfield, Gressel ran into space in the middle of the pitch about 25 yards ran from goal. Gonzalez Pirez slotted the pass. Gressel hit the ball with his right foot to get past Oguchi Onyewu, shrugged off a tackle by Warren Creavalle, and finished the play by toe-poking the shot. He said he wanted to get it off quickly before Philadelphia goalkeeper Andre Blake could get set. All of those decisions were either instinctual or veteran-like.
“Scored a goal, had an assist, got the spike, hugged Arthur (Blank), it was a good night,” teammate Jeff Larentowicz said. “He did really well. He did really well.
“Julian is having a great year. I don’t know if it’s solidified tonight, but he’s making a really strong case (for Rookie of the Year).
Gressel didn’t seem too worried about the possibility of receiving the honor. He has 28 appearances, including 20 starts.
“Be a bigger personal accomplishment, but like I’ve said before I’m more focused on the team and what the team does,” he said. “If I can play good parts in those (playoff) games, everything takes care of itself.”
Gressel succeeding as an attacking midfielder, a position he has played a few times this season, is another example of Martino’s ability to get the most out of his players, even if they aren’t in their natural roles.
In Wednesday’s starting lineup, Anton Walkes, a centerback, started at right fullback for the 14th consecutive game. Chris McCann, a midfielder, started at left fullback for the fourth consecutive game. Larentowicz, a defensive midfielder, started at centerback. Gressel, more of a traditional midfielder, started in the crucial position of attacking midfielder.
Martino joked that he tries not to worry where he will put the players because he said he may overthink it.
“I’m a fan of the players and I have always been like that – even when I was playing,” he said. “As a player, I wanted the credit, and as a coach, I feel the same way. My thinking hasn’t changed. It is still the player’s credit and I don’t want to take any credit from them, but we have also been playing really well and confidently, so, it is a more natural move for some of these guys.”
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