Bartosz Slisz has thrown himself into his new club, Atlanta United, as much as he can.
Before signing from Legia Warsaw, Slisz watched some of the team’s games (”Always offense” he said), spoke to other Polish players in MLS to ask them about the facilities and the league because he wanted to make sure he can improve and met with Jonathan Spector, Atlanta United’s head of international recruitment, after a game in Poland and spoke about the club for two hours in what he described as a professional meeting.
After Slisz signed and arrived in the city, he and his fiancee’ have explored Piedmont Park, Buckhead and Ponce City Market.
Now, Slisz just needs to get his visa so that he can start to train with his teammates instead of by himself.
“This season, for sure, we will go for the championship,” he said Tuesday.
Atlanta United announced last week the acquisition of Slisz from Legia Warsaw for a transfer fee of more than $3 million. Slisz, 24 years old, helped Legia win the league twice, the Polish Cup once and its Super Cup once during his 116 appearances.
Atlanta United was looking for a midfielder who either can work with Tristan Muyumba in central midfield or do the job himself should Muyumba get forward and join the attack.
“He’s a guy that also plays very good with the ball,” manager Gonzalo Pineda said. “He’s a connector. ... He’s always demanding the ball. So he will help us to continue with the theme of playing out the back. He will try to progress it faster forward and try to be dynamic in midfield rotations, and he will bring probably a good, cohesive midfield.”
The defensive midfielder, also called a No. 6, is a position that Atlanta United has tried to fill repeatedly since Darlington Nagbe’s departure after the 2019 season. Several players were signed. Several players no longer are with the team.
It is important because, as Slisz noted, the team likes to attack in numbers. Doing so opens it up to counterattacks, which was a particular problem last season. A good defensive midfielder, one who can cover ground and either win back the ball through tackles or interceptions, or simply by slowing the opponent long enough for the defense to get reset, can be invaluable.
“I can be that player,” he said.
Legia typically played with three centerbacks. Atlanta United likely will play with two. Slisz said that formation and tactical changes won’t be a problem for him.
“It’s a matter of time,” he said. “I will be ready for sure.”
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Atlanta United’s 2024 schedule
Feb. 24 at Columbus, 2 p.m.
March 9 vs. New England, 7:30 p.m.
March 17 vs. Orlando, 7 p.m., FS1
March 23 at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
March 31 vs. Chicago, 3:30 p.m., Fox
April 6 at NYCFC, 7:30 p.m.
April 14 vs. Philadelphia, 2:30 p.m., Fox
April 20 vs. Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
April 27 at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
May 4 vs. Minnesota, 7:30 p.m.
May 11 vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
May 15 at Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
May 18 at Nashville, 1:30 p.m.
May 25 vs. LAFC, 7:30 p.m.
May 29 at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
June 2 vs Charlotte, 4:30 p.m., Fox
June 15 vs. Houston, 7:30 p.m.
June 19 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
June 22 at St. Louis, 8:30 p.m.
June 29 vs. Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
July 3 at New England, 7:30 p.m.
July 6 at Real Salt Lake, 9:30 p.m.
July 13 at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
July 17 vs. NYCFC, 7:30 p.m.
July 20 vs. Columbus, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 24 at L.A. Galaxy, 10:30 p.m.
Aug. 31 at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 14 vs. Nashville, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18 vs. Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 21 at Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 28 at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2 vs. Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 5 vs. Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 19 at Orlando, 6 p.m.
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