Atlanta United welcomes supporters to unique training session

Drums echoed around the training field. Flags waved in the air. Chants filled the more than hour-long session. Barbecue smells from a nearby grill caused hunger pains.

Tuesday’s Atlanta United practice was unique in many, many ways. For the first time in franchise history, a small group of the team’s supporters were invited to watch the entirety of a training session. Before COVID-19, groups of employees from sponsor companies could come and watch parts of sessions.

It was a slice of a game day at Mercedes-Benz Stadium transplanted a few minutes up I-75 at the training ground in Marietta.

The idea came from Atlanta United’s front office and was embraced by manager Gonzalo Pineda.

“I consider the fans massively important in football in general; I think after COVID we all realize how boring games are without fans, and it’s not the same atmosphere,” Pineda said. “So we need to raise the fans higher in the world. So for me, fans, and especially here in Atlanta with the passion that they bring to the stadium, it was for me important that they are integrated into our system. And the players feel their love and feel their passion.”

The training session was the typical one used by Pineda four days from a game. Atlanta United will play at Philadelphia on Saturday in a game that is important for the MLS Eastern Conference playoffs. Atlanta United is in sixth place, one point ahead of the Union. The Five Stripes trail third-place NYCFC by two points and leads 10th-place Columbus by five points.

In addition to gratitude, Pineda had another reason for wanting the supporters to attend the session in Marietta: humility and passion.

“They don’t pay for being here,” Pineda said. “They do this because they love the team. They love the game. They love the players. So we need to feel connected with that passion and that humility, also loving the sport. And for me, it’s massive that players understand that and keep enjoying as fans of football and enjoy on the field as fans and they appreciate their effort for coming and just share their love.

Pineda continued.

“It’s just I feel like players sometimes we live in a different reality, right?” he said. “So we do what we love to do, we play three hours with our friends on the fantastic field in a fantastic facility. We have everything we need here, a nice locker room, we have three chefs for us. We live our lives in a different reality. So people that just come here just to enjoy because they love the passion, that is what they bring to us like humility and coming back to the root of the game, which is the passion just for playing the beautiful game.”

Fullback Brooks Lennon said that message was received.

“Yeah, I think the interaction with the fans is really important,” he said. “You know, Gonzalo talks about the humility side of the game. And, you know, yes, we’re professional athletes. Yes, we’re playing at a high level, but there’s no reason why we can’t interact with our fans. You know, on a personal level, I think that’s very important for the players and the fans in the club. You know, they’re the reason why we are successful.”

Lennon, who said it was hard to focus with the grill going in a corner of the fields, said having supporters attend training is unique to him. He said the weirdest things he signed were a shin guard and a drum. Pineda said it’s something that is done in his native Mexico. He said he hopes to hold another session later this season and a few times next season.

“We are very cautious with COVID protocols, and we are safe, and and we have to take care of those things, too,” he said. “But overall, I love that idea of bringing the fans to see their players in their environment, training session and (the players) love that (the fans) love to see their players, and that’s the idea behind it.”

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