Here are some interesting quotes following Atlanta United’s training session on Friday ahead of Sunday’s home game against D.C. United:
GERARDO MARTINO
On the good and bad of the 3-1 win against Real Salt Lake
“The positive is how effective we were as a team. We were very decisive in attack. The negative is that I didn’t think we controlled the game for the full 90 minutes like I wanted us to.”
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On D.C. United
“They are a team that likes to press high. That’s something they did against New York City. It’s something we expect them to do again. Attacking-wise they put a lot of players into the attack going forward. That can be a difference-maker in the game when they send a lot of people forward.
“They are also a team that is good at set-pieces.”
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On not scoring off a set piece this season
“We’ve had a few opportunities, but not really that many. In the last game you could argue we had a few and maybe a penalty (on Brandon Vazquez) that wasn’t called. But at the same time we know that we are a team that doesn’t have high expectations to score on set pieces. It’s just not the make up of our team.”
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MICHAEL PARKHURST
On his experience captaining an expansion team
“It’s been good. There’s a little bit more on the plate because of the difference of it being a new team. A lot of guys are new to the league. The coaching staff is new to the league. Different things that the coaching staff brings vs. what players in MLS are used to. Trying to find middle ground and making sure communication is done properly between Spanish and English (speaking) guys. The good thing is we have really good people on this team, really good guys off the field. It helps. That makes it a lot easier and fun.”
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TYRONE MEARS
On closing out games
“We’ve said that from the first game against Red Bulls. We put ourselves in very good positions and then it’s just maybe seeing out the game a little bit. That’s just experience. We have a quite a few young players in the team. That will come. We managed to see out the game. Brandon (Vazquez) came in and got his goal.”
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On set-piece defending
“The coaches talked about that. Anywhere in the opposition half they are putting it in the box. That’s got to be something we need to work on, certainly tomorrow, to get out positioning right. We are a small team. We’ve gotten a lot better in recent weeks.”
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