Brad Guzan said he typically has one reaction when he sees Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, or even now Miles Robinson, decide to go on a walk-about with the ball upfield during a game.
“Get your (expletive) back,” Guzan said. “You are giving me a heart attack. If I wasn’t bald already I would be.”
With the switch to a 3-5-2, Atlanta United’s centerbacks more and more becoming involved in attacks with ball-carrying runs forward. To be fair, Gonzalez Pirez has always been an offensive-minded centerback, no matter the formation.
But recently, Robinson and Flo Pogba have gotten more involved in attacks. Pogba won a penalty kick, his first, in the Campeones Cup. Robinson also went on a mazy run upfield that seemed to surprise Club America’s players because he went past five defenders and through two lines.
“They do a good job picking opportunities,” Guzan said.
To see Robinson display the confidence to dribble forward is a sign of his growth. He has eight successful dribbles in nine attempts this season, according to opta.
At the beginning of the season, manager Frank de Boer wasn’t sure he wanted Robinson to even attempt long diagonal passes. Robinson began hitting those. Then, starting with a long run against Chicago, Robinson added that skill to his arsenal.
The long passes and attacking with the ball aren’t things de Boer said they have worked on in training because the glut of games has meant the team hasn’t really had time to properly train in months. Instead, they are something the two have discussed.
“You tell him, I want you to recognize those moments and play a really good ball into the feet,” de Boer said.
De Boer said runs like those being made by the centerbacks are important because it will force an opposing player to step out to defend, leaving someone else open. If the pass is completed, another opposing player is going to have to step out to defend. Suddenly, the opponent’s formation is unbalanced and Atlanta United has an advantage.
“He knows now when to dribble and be comfortable on the ball,” de Boer said. “If he dribbles 3-4 meters he makes someone step out and play it to the free man. That’s what he’s doing right now.”
Lastly, de Boer thanked Atlanta United’s opponents for helping Robinson become a more complete centerback, one that already may the best one-on-one defender in MLS.
“I can understand in the beginning opponents let Miles on the ball and let him do his thing and he will make mistakes,” de Boer said. “Now you can see he’s getting comfortable. I want to thank the opponents who created that. He learned that. It’s a good advantage for us that he’s feeling comfortable not just on the defensive side but on the offensive side.”
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