Atlanta United’s Heinze: Barco will continue to improve

Atlanta United manager Gabriel Heinze said Friday that he thinks Ezequiel Barco will continue to improve as he plays more minutes.

Barco has played in the past three games after missing the previous three because of a hamstring injury. He came off the bench in the 2-2 draw against Nashville, and then started the 2-2 draw against Philadelphia and 1-0 loss at NYCFC on Wednesday.

“He was at a very high level before the injury,” Heinze said. “But he’s getting better. He was one of the best players in our last game.”

Barco is a divisive player among the team’s supporters, some of whom have posted on social media that it’s time for the team to sell him, even if it means taking a loss.

The supporters are frustrated because in 70 regular-season league games Barco has scored only 11 goals with 10 assists, one of each this season, since Atlanta United paid an MLS-record $13.5 million for him before the 2018 season.

This season, only two of his 11 shots have been on goal. Though he completes a high percentage of passes, he ranks 140th in the league in key passes (6), according to fbref.com. As a comparison, New England’s Carles Gil leads the league with 59. Former Atlanta United player Julian Gressel is second with 28.

So far, Barco is neither a scorer nor a true creator, which is not ideal for a Designated Player.

But there’s time and there is determination. In an attempt to continue to fulfill his potential, Barco took a more serious approach to this season. Manager Gabriel Heinze and his staff thought he showed up to preseason camp weighing more than they wanted. So, Barco hired a personal chef to help him with his nutrition.

Speaking earlier this week, he said, “This coaching staff has really helped me on a personal level get the best out of myself. It’s very helpful for myself and the team.”

He started the season well, scoring the winning goal on a penalty kick in the Champions League opening game at Alajuelense. He was dynamic and energetic, sprinting all over the field on offense and defense.

That consistent effort understandably began to wane as the games continued, but Barco still was mostly positively affecting games. And then he suffered his injury coming on as a sub at New England on May 1.

Without Josef Martinez, who is out for Sunday because he is with Venezuela in the Copa America, and Emerson Hyndman, who is out for the season with a torn ACL, it is an opportunity for Barco to lead the team.

Another opportunity will come Sunday against the New York Red Bulls at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

“I still think the same,” he said. “It’s a very long season, both on a personal and group level. Our goal is still the same. We have to keep working the same way that we have.”

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Atlanta United’s 2021 MLS schedule

April 17 Atlanta United 0, Orlando 0

April 24 Atlanta United 3, Chicago 1

May 1 New England 2, Atlanta United 1

May 9 Atlanta United 1, Inter Miami 1,

May 15 Atlanta United 1, Montreal 0

May 23 Atlanta United 1, Seattle 1

May 29 Atlanta United 2, Nashville 2