Atlanta United’s Josef Martinez declines to talk following season-ending loss

Atlanta United striker Josef Martinez repeatedly said just one thing following the team’s 2-1 loss to NYCFC on Sunday in its regular-season finale at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

“(Carlos) Bocanegra is over there and (Gonzalo) Pineda is over there,” he said when approached in the locker room. Martinez was asked twice by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and once by another media outlet for an interview and gave the same response all three times. Bocanegra wasn’t available for an interview. Pineda had already spoken to the media following the loss, which dropped the team to 10-14-10.

Martinez, a Designated Player and the leading scorer in franchise history, was used as a sub for the eighth time in the past nine games. He was ineligible to play in one of the games because he was suspended by Pineda and Bocanegra for conduct detrimental to the team following a loss at Portland on Sept. 10.

Wearing all black on Sunday, Martinez took time afterward to take photos with several of the team’s young supporters before he left the stadium. Martinez is typically one of the last players to leave the locker room. On Sunday he was one of the first.

Martinez expressed unhappiness with the front office after a 3-0 loss to Austin on July 9. He started just three of the team’s remaining 16 games. Among many topics Martinez addressed then was the need for the team to sign different players.

Martinez finished with a team-high nine goals in 26 appearances, including 12 starts, this season. He has scored 103 goals in MLS play since 2017 and 111 goals across all competitions.

Pineda said he tried to use Martinez in the most efficient way possible while considering that he was recovering from a surgery on his rebuilt right knee.

“I tried to use him in the most effective way, which is the moments where we are dominating the games, where we are in the final third, he doesn’t need to do a lot of long distance sprint or repetitions at high intensity,” Pineda said. “And I feel that that’s the best way I could use Josef in that part of the field. Knowing that Josef is a big player and is a very good striker. But I still think he was a very valuable piece of the team because every time he came, he the energy in the building was a bit higher, and he brings a lot of energy to create chances, and he carry on with one or two defenders inside the box. And obviously he score goals.”

Pineda said he needs to have meetings with Bocanegra to determine Martinez’s future with the club. There is one year remaining on his contract and the team holds an option for 2024.

Luiz Araujo said the seeming stress between Martinez and two of the clubs leaders didn’t affect the team.

“We’re all professionals so we know we have to do our job on the field,” Araujo said. “We don’t worry about that stuff. That’s for Carlos or Gonzalo to figure it out.”

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Atlanta United’s 2022 MLS results

Feb. 27 Atlanta United 3, Sporting KC 1

March 5 Colorado 3, Atlanta United 0

March 13 Atlanta United 2, Charlotte 1

March 19 Atlanta United 3, Montreal 3

April 2 Atlanta United 1, D.C. United 0

April 10 Charlotte 1, Atlanta United 0

April 16 Atlanta United 0, Cincinnati 0

April 24 Miami 2, Atlanta United 1

April 30 Montreal 2, Atlanta United 1

May 7 Atlanta United 4, Chicago 1

May 15 Atlanta United 2, New England 2