Put into a challenging situation with the unexpected absence of Ozzie Alonso, George Campbell acquitted himself well as a defensive midfielder in Saturday’s 3-0 loss at Colorado, according to manager Gonzalo Pineda.
Campbell was brought in as a player-to-player swap when the team announced Saturday afternoon that Alonso was unable to play as a precautionary measure after consulting with the team’s cardiologist.
“He played there a few times last year, and I think he did well in that regard,” Pineda said. “So part of the idea of putting George Campbell there is not changing a lot, the dynamic and what we trained the whole week.”
Campbell played 64 minutes, had 47 touches and dominated the game for a stretch of minutes in the first half. He should have had an assist on a pass to Tyler Wolff, whose shot to the far post was stopped by the outstretched right leg of goalkeeper William Yarbrough. Campbell won possession four times and completed 84.4% of his passes. He put one shot on target.
Campbell was forced into the lineup because the team has no other available defensive midfielder and there is no timetable yet on their return. Santiago Sosa and Franco Ibarra are in Argentina attempting to secure green cards. Sosa missed all of the preseason because of offseason surgery. Alonso has two appointments with cardiologists next week, according to Pineda. Another part of the equation is the team will be without Miles Robinson next week because he picked up two yellow cards against Colorado. Campbell may be needed to play alongside Alan Franco as the second centerback.
Amar Sejdic, who played alongside Campbell in the midfield, said that he and midfielder Matheus Rossetto did what they could to help Campbell before the game.
“You always have to check your shoulders, be aware of the space, scanning,” Sejdic said. “Be aware of where your other midfielders are so you can combine but I think he did well.”
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Atlanta United’s 2022 MLS schedule
Feb. 27 Atlanta United 3, Sporting KC 1
March 5 Colorado 3, Atlanta United 0
March 13 vs. Charlotte, 4:30 p.m., FS1
March 19 vs. Montreal, 4 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
April 2 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
April 10 at Charlotte, 1:30 p.m., ABC, ESPN Deportes
April 16 vs. Cincinnati, 6 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
April 24 at Miami, 1 p.m., ESPN
April 30 at Montreal, 4 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
May 7 vs. Chicago, 6 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
May 15 vs. New England, 2 p.m., ESPN
May 21 at Nashville, 7:30 p.m. FOX
May 28 vs. Columbus Crew, 7 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
June 19 vs Miami, 4 p.m., ESPN2
June 25 at Toronto, 7:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
June 30 at New York Red Bulls, 8 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
July 3 at NYCFC, 5 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
July 9 vs. Austin, 7 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
July 13 vs. Real Salt Lake, 7:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
July 17 vs. Orlando, 3 p.m., ABC
July 24 at L.A. Galaxy, 9:30 p.m., FS1
July 30 at Chicago, 5 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
August 6 vs. Seattle, 3 p.m., ABC
August 13 at Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. BSSO/BSSE
August 17 vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
August 21 at Columbus, 6 p.m., FS1
August 28 vs. D.C. United, 4 p.m., UNIV
August 31 at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4 at Portland, 5:30 p.m., FOX
Sept. 10 vs. Toronto, 7:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
Sept. 14 at Orlando, 6 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
Sept 17 vs. Philadelphia, 3:30 p.m., UniMas
Oct. 1 at New England, 1 p.m., UniMas
Oct. 9 vs. NYCFC, TBD, BSSO/BSSE
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