Brad Guzan read the social media posts the past few months.
He didn’t need the motivation.
No, he doesn’t feel washed up after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon. Yes, he understands why more goalkeepers were signed by Atlanta United. And, of most importance, yes, he plans on being the MLS team’s starter for his season-opening game Feb. 25 vs. San Jose at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“There’s nobody that pushes me more than myself,” the 38-year-old said. “There’s nobody that is going to walk through that door and, all of a sudden, I’m going to say, ‘Oh, I better try today.’ That’s not how I work. That’s not how I go about my business. And so, you know, obviously, we needed more goalkeepers. I can’t be the only one out there.”
Guzan pushed and pushed himself since he suffered his injury April 16 in a home game against Cincinnati. Guzan had just kicked a ball downfield when the Achilles ruptured. Guzan immediately turned around to see if someone had kicked him before he went down onto the turf.
He underwent surgery April 20 and soon his rehab began. Guzan was a constant at the team’s training facility, first with a scooter to help him move around, then wearing a boot, then sneakers, then cleats.
On Friday, Guzan was jumping and diving to stop shots as if it were a year ago.
“I feel 21, but I’m not 21,” he said.
Guzan said he feels no aftereffects from the surgery and rehab. The team’s sports science staff has put together a program to have him ready for the opening game.
“We have seven weeks of preseason this time, and that gives us the good time frame to see all of the players, whether they were injured or not, who’s ready and fit to start the first game,” manager Gonzalo Pineda said. “And, hopefully, Brad can be available for that first game.”
If Guzan isn’t ready, the team signed Quentin Westberg and Clement Diop. Guzan knew there would be competition. Vice President Carlos Bocanegra told him just after the season that moves would be made, just in case. Plus, Guzan is in the final year of his contract.
“I’m going to play until until someone tells me not to,” he said.
Really, playing has to be better than watching what happened last season. The team failed to make the playoffs for the second time in three seasons. Guzan, a team captain and very vocal leader when on the field, said he could feel “rages” while riding the elevator down from the suites where he would watch the games to the home locker room. When the negative feelings would subside Guzan said he would think about ways that he could try to be a better leader to help the team even if he couldn’t physically be there.
He said he is blessed to have four kids who also kept him grounded.
“They don’t care that I’m recovering from an Achilles, you know, it’s, we want to do this, we want to do that,” Guzan said. “And, so, that part I think helped me massively. But, at the same time, you know, like I said, being a better teammate and how I can help the group from, from an outside standpoint.”
There was one more important lesson Guzan learned, one that he said he is telling the much younger players on the team, many of whom are participating in the preseason training to help the team have enough numbers to properly train.
“Enjoy the journey, enjoy the good times, the bad times, the difficult times,” Guzan said. “It makes you appreciate what we’re able to do day in and day out. And I think when you’re a young kid anyway, you take that for granted. But, obviously, you know, I’ve been fortunate enough to do this now for quite some time. And you have a real appreciation for it. You appreciate the grind, you appreciate the freezing cold days, the hot scorching days in the summer.”
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 770-810-5297.
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 vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 7:30 p.m.
March 4 vs. Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m.
March 11 at Charlotte FC, noon, Fox
March 18 vs. Portland Timbers, 7:30 p.m.
March 25 at Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.
April 1 vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
April 8 at New York City FC, 7:30 p.m.
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
About the Author
