Atlanta United manager Gonzalo Pineda said he’s never experienced a series of injuries like his team has suffered this season.
Two more players, Miles Robinson and Caleb Wiley, were forced from Saturday’s 4-1 win against Chicago at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Robinson appeared to suffer an injury to his Achilles. Pineda said he will have to undergo an MRI before they know what happened. He went to the turf untouched after jumping to head a ball. Wiley suffered a rolled ankle.
“Nothing like this,” Pineda said. “Especially not in the first 10 games of the season.”
So far, the team has lost goalkeeper Brad Guzan (Achilles), goalkeeper Dylan Castanheira (Achilles) and midfielder Ozzie Alonso (ACL) to season-ending injuries. Striker Josef Martinez is out for a few more weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. Machop Chol suffered an injury in the preseason. He has yet to return. Emerson Hyndman only recently returned after ACL surgery last year. Luiz Araujo only recently returned after a hamstring injury.
Pineda would neither blame the turf, saying he’s not an expert, nor the sports science staff for the rash of injuries.
He said that after the injuries suffered by Guzan and Alonso the team did a self-examination and “there was nothing there.”
“We have just to try to find a solution,” he said. “But at the same time, I think it’s bad luck.”
Brooks Lennon said he was sad for Robinson, describing him as one of his best friends.
“I think we were all kind of stung so we’re praying for him and we wish him a speedy recovery, but it’s just another blow to the team, which is not great for us, but like we said all along we’ve got guys that are going to need to step up,” Lennon said.
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