Atlanta United hasn’t played the same since it lost by five goals March 25 at Columbus, manager Gonzalo Pineda acknowledged Thursday ahead of Saturday’s game at Miami.
The team’s poor form has resulted in two consecutive losses in which it has put only four shots on target, one of which was a penalty kick. It created 20 chances total in the games.
Pineda said the team needs to take more risks when it gets into the opponent’s defensive third.
“We know that the last few games we haven’t been as we want to be in that part of the field,” Pineda said. “And we want to improve.”
Using Columbus as the before and after, the stats show the difference:
- In the team’s first four MLS games, it averaged 2.75 goals and 13.75 chances created per game.
- In the past five league games, it has averaged 1.6 goals and 8.0 chances created per game.
Pineda said the poor form has coincided with injuries to goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who is a key player when the team tries to build out of the back, and striker Giorgos Giakoumakis, who was unable to finish the games against New York City FC and Toronto because of a reoccurring hamstring injury. That injury also forced him to miss the U.S. Open Cup loss at Memphis, Saturday’s loss at Nashville and this week’s match. Giakoumakis didn’t play in the team’s first two games.
Still, Pineda points out that Atlanta United ranks tied for second in the league in goals scored (19) and has yet to be shut out.
What has been missing the past few games, Pineda said, is the number, proper positioning and decision-making of players in the 18-yard box. He said the team is getting the ball into good areas, but the final product is missing for those reasons.
“I think just being cleaner on the ball,” fullback Caleb Wiley said. “I think we have the right ideas, and we’re putting them together.”
Taking those risks means that some players need to get forward into positions that threaten the opponents, but it possibly leaves Atlanta United’s defense exposed should there a turnover. Maintaining a defensive awareness is an important concept within Pineda’s tactics. It broke down in Nashville’s final two goals. Pineda said that he doesn’t think the players may not be getting into the proper attacking positions because they are too focused on maintaining the proper formational shape.
Pineda said the players know how to move into a teammate’s vacated space and how to avoid being left in one-on-one or similar-number situations.
“Throughout the season, I feel comfortable with how we’ve been doing that,” he said.
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Atlanta United’s 2023 MLS schedule
Feb. 25 Atlanta United 2, San Jose Earthquakes 1
March 4 Atlanta United 1, Toronto FC 1
March 11 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte FC 0
March 18 Atlanta United 5, Portland 1
March 25 Columbus 6, Atlanta United 1
April 1 Atlanta United 1, New York Red Bulls 0
April 8 Atlanta United 1, New York City FC 1
April 15 Atlanta United 2, Toronto FC 2
April 23 Atlanta United 2, Chicago 1
April 29 Nashville SC 3, Atlanta United 1
May 6 at Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.
May 13 vs. Charlotte FC, 7:30 p.m.
May 17 vs. Colorado Rapids, 7:30 p.m.
May 20 at Chicago Fire FC, 8:30 p.m.
May 27 at Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m.
May 31 vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m., FS1
June 3 at Los Angeles FC, 10:30 p.m.
June 10 vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
June 21 vs. New York City FC, 7:30 p.m.
June 24 at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
July 2 vs. Philadelphia Union, 4 p.m., Fox
July 8 at CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
July 12 at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m.
July 15 vs. Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m., FS1
Aug. 20 at Seattle Sounders, 10:30 p.m.
Aug. 26 vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 30 vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 2 at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 vs. Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 20 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 vs. CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 4 at Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 at FC Cincinnati, TBA
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