MLS Atlanta United FC

Atlanta United Falls to Columbus Crew SC in Preseason Match

Published on February 18, 2017 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Atlanta United FC News Release


Saturday, Feb. 18

Head Coach Tata Martino

Opening comment

Except the first 15 minutes, after Martinez's goal, it showed that we're in different stages of preparation. One team with more games played, and for us, this was our second game and you could see the difference.

Number one thing you learned from Atlanta United tonight

What we're finding out is in respect to the quality of opponents, and that's good to go on making decisions on the different formations that we have to make as a team.

On the team being tired

I can't say that we didn't travel five hours yesterday, but the evaluation that I have to make is regardless of the travel.

On Columbus' first goal

It was unfortunate, there's no lesson to give.

On Columbus being able to handle the press

Very well, they pressed well, they pressed high, it's also a very dynamic team. And we'll see if Seattle plays a similar system.

On the good from Atlanta tonight

I have to say the first 15 minutes, we pressed well, we had chances on goal, we scored a goal, but after the pressure was tough for us, and we changed our shape to see if we could fall back a little and we did a little better.

If Columbus made changes that made Atlanta react like that?

Yes, they made us fall back because they were playing well and we couldn't pressure them.

Defender Michael Parkhurst

How effective was the press?

There's things we need to work on. There were times, especially in the first half where HiguaÃ-n and Meram were giving us problems in the pockets. We adjusted that at halftime. To start the second half, I thought we did a much better job of condensing the space. But that's what these games are for. We need to look at the tape and realize what we did well and what we didn't.

What were some positives?

I thought we created a couple turnovers in their half of the field. When we did that we got to goal quickly. In the second half Kenwyne was put in a couple times and was a little unlucky. In the first half we got a couple of very good breaks, including the goal where we turned them over in their third and went straight to goal and scored. Defensively we made some plays where they had numbers up, or they were breaking on us and we were able to make some plays. There were some good things, and of course some things that we need to improve on.

Did travel issues affect the team?

No I don't think so. It was our first 90-minute game. It didn't matter if we traveled 10 minutes or five hours. We were going to feel it today.

Thoughts on being named captain

Honored and humbled. It's a very special thing to know that I'm the first in club history. Hopefully it will be a long and rich history. Hopefully I can set a good precedent for future captains.

What are your responsibilities as captain?

Provide leadership on and off the field. Be somebody that can be accountable, be responsible and somebody guys can look up to through good times and bad. That's on the field and off the field. You want to represent the club in the best light possible and I hope to do that.

What did you say to Kann after the first goal?

The only thing I said to him was that I should have told him to just clear it. I was telling him that Tye [Tyrone Mears] was open. When we put the ball down, that's who he was trying to find and I just told him ‚¬Ëœhey, I should have told you to clear it.

How did you feel about the support from the fans who traveled to Charleston?

It was awesome to look over there and see the red and hear them throughout the game. It was great. It's awesome playing in front of our fans. We're really looking forward to that first game. We know that it's going to be a huge crowd. We're excited about it.

Did the formation change during the game?

No different formation. I think [Tata] wants guys to be moving around. I think he wants guys to be interchanging positions. He wants to create that chaos a little bit in the attacking third. I think that's maybe what he was trying to get across. From my perspective in the back, I didn't' see a formation change or know of one. But we definitely want to have those options to be able to have that fluidity and move guys around and create different matchups.

Goalkeeper Alec Kann

On first save

I saw [Ethan] Finley cutting in, so usually when a player does that, he's going to try to go to the back post. So I just tried to stay balanced and my timing was good, I got a good push, and was able to get it around the post.

On Columbus' first goal

Things like that happen. Thankfully it was a preseason game. It's just a bonehead move on my part. Got to learn from it and move on.

Who he was trying to get the ball to

Ty [Mears] was open on that side. [Federico] Higuain was on my blindside. I saw him out of the corner of my eye and I tried to rush it. Usually that ball hits him and goes out for a goal kick. But, unfortunately, it went in the goal.

On overall performance

I thought I played well and kept us in the game when we were 1-0. After the mistake, I thought I did fine. Have to learn from this and move on to Wednesday. Thankfully it's a quick turnaround. We play another really good MLS team and we can get it together for the first game of the season.

On team reaction after the conceded goal

Everyone was supportive. We're a team. We work together and build each other up when we make mistakes and we keep each other grounded when things are going great.

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