Training has intensity, communication under new Atlanta United manager

Atlanta United’s first week of training under new manager Gabriel Heinze has been intense. From the first session.

“It was tough day, for sure,” midfielder Emerson Hyndman said. “He introduced himself like that. We didn’t expect anything less. We had a tough time last year. We expect him to come in and tell us what he wanted us to do and be very direct. He has great ideas on how he wants to play the game. We are learning quite a bit in a short time.”

To call last season a “tough time” is a bit of an understatement. No playoffs for the first time. A negative goal difference for the first time.

That’s why Heinze is in charge. That’s why the team is holding two practices a day.

“The way he wants to play requires hard work and a lot of fitness,” Hyndman said. “A lot of things we are doing are tough physically as well as mentally. It’s about being tough. He wants to play on the front foot. We have it in our mind that it’s going to make us better.”

The style — three central midfielders, a lot of pressing — reminds one of Gerardo Martino’s two seasons as Atlanta United’s manager.

Like Martino, Heinze also is a very clear communicator. The players say they know exactly what he wants from them or wants them to do, whether he uses his hands or his interpreter.

“As a player it gives you that sense of security, that sense of confidence,” winger Erik Lopez said. “We are hoping it will be a year full of results and wins and championships.”

Hyndman said that Heinze took him aside and explained which position (central midfielder) is best for him and is allowing him to concentrate only on that role. Hyndman said it’s different than last season when he was used in a variety of positions.

“Very comforting for me to know that this is my position,” Hyndman said.

As intense as Heinze is, and as intricate as his pressing system is, Lopez said the players free to express themselves on the field and unafraid to make mistakes.

“As players you will always make mistakes,” Lopez said. “It’s those mistakes that you end up learning from. From a coach, that’s good to know who is going to support you.”