The last of the players who were out on international duty returned and resumed training with Atlanta United ahead of Sunday’s MLS playoff match at Orlando.
That trio were attacking midfielder Alexey Miranchuk, who was playing for Russia; winger Saba Lobjanidze, who was playing for Georgia; centerback Luis Abram, who was playing for Peru; and centerback Efrain Morales, who was playing for Bolivia.
Though the stakes of Sunday’s match are important, Atlanta United interim manager Rob Valentino said he wasn’t concerned that the players won’t have a lot of time prepare. Other players who returned this week were midfielder Bartosz Slisz (Poland), centerback Stian Gregersen (Norway), and winger Luke Brennan (U.S. Under-20s). Lobjanidze, Miranchuk, Abram, Slisz and Gregersen consistently start for Atlanta United.
“It’s a great situation to be in, our guys are playing in their national teams,” Valentino said. “It doesn’t affect us in that way, of the guys that were here got to train and work toward the goal of playing the next game. The ones that were away got their chances to represent their countries, and also now they’re back and fully healthy, that’s the big thing. We’ve seen that down the stretch, that anyone can be called at any time. So we just prepare the team as best we can.”
Lobjanidze, who scored nine goals with seven assists during the regular season, said he arrived Wednesday and that he feels fine.
To try to keep the players as prepared as possible while they are away, Atlanta United will upload videos of training and scouting reports to a platform that can be accessed.
Valentino said he doesn’t mandate that the players watch because he said he knows that they are focused on national-team duties.
“I’m far away, but still I’m with the team,” he said.
Orlando had six players out for their national teams.
Winger Edwin Mosquera (knee), fullback Brooks Lennon (shoulder) and goalkeeper Quentin Westberg (concussion) won’t be available for Atlanta United on Sunday.
Interview. Valentino confirmed that he interviewed to be the team’s manager during the week before the Charlotte match, played Aug. 31.
“Ask somebody else,” he said, when asked how he thought it went.
Atlanta United has interviewed four candidates. Valentino and Patrick Vieira are two of the quartet. The other two remain unreported.
Atlanta United President Garth Lagerwey fired Gonzalo Pineda in June and promoted Valentino from assistant to interim. Valentino went 6-6-6 during the regular season. Lagerwey also is interviewing candidates to be hired as the team’s technical director. Carlos Bocanegra was fired in September.
Travelers. An Atlanta United spokesman said there will be at least 400 supporters at Sunday’s match.
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Atlanta United’s 2024 schedule
Feb. 24 Columbus 1, Atlanta United 0
March 9 Atlanta United 4, New England 1
March 17 Atlanta United 2, Orlando 0
March 23 Toronto 2, Atlanta United 0
March 31 Atlanta United 3, Chicago 0
April 6 Atlanta United 1, NYCFC 1
April 14 Atlanta United 2, Philadelphia 2
April 20 Cincinnati 2, Atlanta United 1
April 27 Atlanta United 1, Chicago 1
May 4 Minnesota 2, Atlanta United 1
May 7 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte Independence 0 in U.S. Open Cup
May 11 D.C. United 3, Atlanta United 2
May 15 Cincinnati 1, Atlanta United 0
May 18 Atlanta United 1, Nashville 1
May 21 Atlanta United 0 (5), Charleston 0 (4) in U.S. Open Cup
May 25 LAFC 1, Atlanta United 0
May 29 Atlanta United 3, Miami 1
June 2 Charlotte 3, Atlanta United 2
June 15 Atlanta United 2, Houston 2
June 19 Atlanta United 1, D.C. United 0
June 22 Atlanta United 1, St. Louis 1
June 29 Atlanta United 2, Toronto 1
July 3 New England 2, Atlanta United 1
July 6 Real Salt Lake 5, Atlanta United 2
July 9 vs. Indy Eleven 2, Atlanta United 1
July 13 Montreal 1, Atlanta United 0
July 17 Atlanta United 2, NYCFC 2
July 20 Atlanta United 2, Columbus 1
July 26 D.C. United 3 (6), Atlanta United 3 (5) in Leagues Cup
Aug. 4 Santos Laguna 0 (5), Atlanta United 0 (3) in Leagues Cup
Aug. 24 L.A. Galaxy 2, Atlanta United 0
Aug. 31 Atlanta United 1, Charlotte 0
Sept. 14 Nashville 2, Atlanta United 0
Sept. 18 Atlanta United 2, Inter Miami 2
Sept. 21 Atlanta United 2, Red Bulls 2
Sept. 28 Atlanta United 1, Philadelphia 1
Oct. 2 Montreal 2, Atlanta United 1
Oct. 5 Atlanta United 2, Red Bulls 1
Oct. 19 Atlanta United 2, Orlando 1
Oct. 22 Atlanta United 2 (5), Montreal 2 (4) in wild-card round
Oct. 25 Inter Miami 2, Atlanta United 1 in playoffs, Game 1
Nov. 2 Atlanta United 2, Inter Miami 1 in playoffs, Game 2
Nov. 9 Atlanta United 3, Inter Miami 2 in playoffs, Game 3
Nov. 24 Atlanta United at Orlando in Eastern Conference semifinals, 3:30 p.m.
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