Focus will be on Atlanta United’s Barco on Saturday

Because Josef Martinez is suspended for Atlanta United’s game at Columbus on Saturday, the focus again will turn to Ezequiel Barco to try to help the team snap its 12-game winless streak.

Interim manager Rob Valentino said he is going to try to put Barco and his teammates in the best positions to allow them to play with freedom.

“He’s such a special player that’s creative,” Valentino said. “You don’t coach that. It’s something a player develops over time or has a special skill for it.”

Wednesday’s 2-2 draw at Montreal was Barco’s first with the club after rejoining it following Argentina’s failed run for a medal in the Olympics in Tokyo. Martinez received a red card for violent conduct in the game.

Barco played well. He was credited with an assist on Atlanta United’s first goal after he picked up the ball in his team’s half and dribbled some 50 yards before drawing several defenders and then passing it to his right to Martinez, who finished the chance in the 65th minute. Barco led the team with four chances created.

Valentino said that isn’t something that he can coach. It does illustrate what Valentino is trying to get the team to do: go forward. Always forward. Attack. Create.

“I think you saw in the last game that we did have more creativity and were able to go out and play with freedom,” said Barco, who lined up as a left winger but often drifted inside as an attacking midfielder.

Valentino said after the Montreal game that he wants to see Barco staying forward and not getting into the same spaces as Marcelino Moreno.

“He’s coming back into the group,” Valentino said Wednesday. “He understands me as a person and coach. We are trying to get on the same page. I thought he brought some energy, and he helped out in transition. Hopefully as he keeps going with some games with our squad, he will pick up some momentum and push forward.”

Turning to Saturday, Barco has been in this position before.

When Martinez was lost for the 2020 season after the first league game because of a knee injury, Barco and Pity Martinez looked to be the ones to try to carry the offense. Pity Martinez eventually was sold a few months later. Barco finished with two goals and three assists in 15 appearances. The team failed to make the playoffs for the first time.

Barco was not the player to blame for last season’s results. But as one of the two remaining Designated Players, he received a lot of the attention and responsibility for trying to lead an attack that couldn’t find a way to overcome the loss of Josef Martinez.

Stakes are high again Saturday.

Atlanta United has the fewest wins (2) in MLS and is nine points behind the Crew for the seventh and final playoff spot.

It needs a win.

Focus will be on Barco.

“We can’t fake who we are,” Valentino said. “If we are out there and you aren’t playing free like you do, you aren’t going to perform the best. We will see tomorrow night. This is a really big test of our character.”

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