Aggressiveness key for Atlanta United vs. Philadelphia

The aggressiveness missing from the first minute of Saturday’s 4-0 loss at the Red Bulls will be needed when Atlanta United hosts Philadelphia on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

ExploreLooking back at Atlanta United's loss to New York

The Red Bulls (5-6-8) were an offensively challenged bunch that was below the playoff line when they outplayed Atlanta United. Philadelphia (10-3-6) is among the best teams in the Eastern Conference and can score from a variety of ways – similar to what the Five Stripes just faced against New York.

Philadelphia presses. It forces turnovers. It attacks. It has scored 34 goals, third-most in the conference behind Columbus and Atlanta United.

“I think consistency is key, I think it has to be on every play. I think it has to be,” midfielder Amar Sejdic said. “We need to demand it from each other more.”

What makes Philadelphia different from the Red Bulls is its diamond-shaped midfield formation, something manager Jim Curtin has used for years. It helped the team reach the MLS Cup last year.

The midfield, designed to squeeze spaces on the field, frequently will leave the wide spaces on the flanks open. Atlanta United has done some of its best work in those spaces this season with wingers Caleb Wiley, Tyler Wolff and fullbacks Brooks Lennon and Andrew Gutman.

ExploreDoug Roberson breaks down Atlanta United-New York Red Bulls

Switching the point of attack to move the ball from a crowded side to a player who may be open on the other side was something that Atlanta United worked on Wednesday.

“Those wide areas in playing against a diamond are very important,” Lennon said.

Getting those players open will require off-the-ball movement from players so that the Union can’t smother the dribbler and create a turnover. That dribbler will need options short and long. Efficient midfield rotations into spaces will be very important.

Should Atlanta United lose the ball, Sejdic said counter-pressure will be key. Typically, a team wants to win the ball back within five seconds. It takes aggressiveness.

“How can we be happy, we have the energy to be contagious, where as soon as you lose the ball, one guy presses, the next guy follows, the guy behind him follows,” he said. “And then from there, we recoup the ball and then start another attack. So I think that’s important.”

ExploreMore AJC coverage of Atlanta United

For more content about Atlanta United

Follow me on Twitter @DougRobersonAJC

On Facebook at Atlanta United News Now

On Instagram at DouglasDavidRoberson

Atlanta United coverage on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Southern Fried Soccer podcast can be found

Apple - https://apple.co/3ISD6Ve

Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3L8TN0C

Google podcasts - https://bit.ly/32KlZW3

If you are listening to us for the first time, please follow us on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcast ... and if you like what you hear, please give us a good rating so we can grow the show. If you have questions about the MLS team, you can email Doug Roberson at droberson@ajc.com, DM him on Twitter @dougrobersonajc or call 404-526-2527.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a special offer for Atlanta United supporters and listeners to this podcast. If you subscribe today, you will not only get unlimited digital access to the AJC and the Sunday paper for $2.30 a week but we are also throwing in a special limited-edition Atlanta United and Atlanta Journal-Constitution scarf. So sign up now at subscribe.ajc.com/utdscarf.

Atlanta United’s 2023 MLS schedule

Feb. 25 Atlanta United 2, San Jose Earthquakes 1

March 4 Atlanta United 1, Toronto FC 1

March 11 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte FC 0

March 18 Atlanta United 5, Portland 1

March 25 Columbus 6, Atlanta United 1

April 1 Atlanta United 1, New York Red Bulls 0

April 8 Atlanta United 1, New York City FC 1

April 15 Atlanta United 2, Toronto FC 2

April 23 Atlanta United 2, Chicago 1

April 29 Nashville SC 3, Atlanta United 1

May 6 Inter Miami CF 2, Atlanta United 1