Torn MCL to sideline Atlanta United captain Brad Guzan for at least 10 weeks

Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan is expected to miss at least 10 weeks because of a torn MCL in his left knee.

📰 | #ATLUTD announces that Brad Guzan suffered a torn MCL on his left knee during Saturday's match.
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) April 11, 2023

Guzan sustained the injury after an unsuccessful challenge made by NYCFC’s Gabriel Segal in the first half of Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Yankee Stadium.

As soon as Segal ran into him, Guzan began to signal that he was in pain. Trainers examined Guzan, and he remained in the game, making two saves. No foul was called against Segal on the play. Segal did go to Guzan as the trainers were looking at him and appeared to make a gesture as if apologizing.

Guzan, Atlanta United’s captain, has 226 starts in MLS, including 147 for Atlanta United. He suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon last season that resulted in him missing the final 27 games. He has two shutouts this season. Atlanta United will play at Toronto on Saturday. Ten weeks would result in Guzan missing possibly 13 league games.

Atlanta United (4-1-2) manager Gonzalo Pineda expressed his displeasure with referee Drew Fischer after the game because he said it was the second consecutive week that an opposing player attempted to tackle Guzan with no fouls called. The Professional Referee Organization has yet to comment on the no-call.

“I just saw Brad was tackled, and that to me is unbelievable,” Pineda said. “That is not even a yellow, which for me was already a bad call. But nothing is to me really bad. And that’s the second time, no call. I need to take care of my players because the referees are not doing that with my players.”

Teammate Amar Sejdic said Tuesday that it wasn’t evident in the locker room at halftime that Guzan’s injury was serious because he was fired up and ready to get back on the field.

“I mean, everybody feels for him, especially coming back from that Achilles injury and then to have for us to be playing in the form we’re in and then for us to lose our main leader,” Sejdic said. “It’s definitely sad, but we all know Brad, he’s a warrior, and he’s kind of that guy who is going to stay positive and make sure that we’re still getting things done on and off the field as a team and that’s the next-man-up mentality.”

Sejdic said being prepared is what they learned from Guzan’s injury last season.

Guzan’s backups are Quentin Westberg, formerly of Toronto, and Clement Diop. Westberg has made 68 starts in MLS. Diop has made 50.

Sejdic said Westberg is great with his feet and in stopping shots and has a great attitude. He said Diop also is ready.

“I think as a keeper, you have to have a certain different mentality to even play that position,” Sejdic said. “So you can say that they’re all a little bit crazy in their own way. This is an opportunity for them to kind of help the team and, just as it is for any player coming in off the bench or coming into the starting lineup from the bench or even an academy player, it’s another opportunity to help the team. And that’s the way we kind of have to look at it.”

Also, midfielder Thiago Almada, who leads the team with four goals and five assists, will not participate in Tuesday’s training session as a precaution. Almada, a candidate for MLS MVP, collided with an NYCFC player late in last week’s game and could be seen hobbling for the game’s final minutes.

Franco Ibarra also will miss Tuesday’s training session. He received a red card in the NYCFC game after a violent collision with James Sands. Ibarra twice sustained injuries in the match.

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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 at Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m.

April 23 vs. Chicago Fire FC, 4:30 p.m., FS1

April 29 at Nashville SC, 1:30 p.m., Fox

May 6 at Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.

May 13 vs. Charlotte FC, 7:30 p.m.

May 17 vs. Colorado Rapids, 7:30 p.m.

May 20 at Chicago Fire FC, 8:30 p.m.

May 27 at Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m.

May 31 vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m., FS1

June 3 at Los Angeles FC, 10:30 p.m.

June 10 vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.

June 21 vs. New York City FC, 7:30 p.m.

June 24 at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.

July 2 vs. Philadelphia Union, 4 p.m., Fox

July 8 at CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

July 12 at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m.

July 15 vs. Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m., FS1

Aug. 20 at Seattle Sounders, 10:30 p.m.

Aug. 26 vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 30 vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 2 at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

Sept. 16 vs. Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 20 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 23 vs. CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 4 at Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 7 vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 21 at FC Cincinnati, TBA