Matheus Rossetto performing well as captain, teammate for Atlanta United

Matheus Rossetto described being selected by manager Gonzalo Pineda to be Atlanta United’s next captain as a blessing.

With Josef Martinez’s return, it remains to be seen how much longer Rossetto will wear the armband, but Pineda and teammates said he has embraced the role.

“Matheus is the type of guy, he’s going to put in a shift every single time he steps on the field,” goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth said. “So I think he’s one of those guys that’s leading by action. And I think you can see how dedicated he is, how strong his desire is to get results. And I think that kind of leads the team.”

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Rossetto is the third player to be named captain this season. The first, Brad Guzan, suffered a season-ending Achilles injury April 16. Centerback Miles Robinson was the next to be named captain. He suffered a season-ending Achilles injury May 7. Rossetto became captain for the team’s next game, a U.S. Open Cup match at Nashville.

“He’s done a great job being calm, staying in the moment and not making the captaincy or any leadership position pull him out of his normal self,” Brooks Lennon said. “I think he’s a good guy, and everyone likes him in the locker room.”

Pineda said he named Rossetto as the on-field leader for many reasons.

First, he said he’s a “fantastic human being.” Rossetto, a talented guitar player, is always smiling, always positive, according to his manager.

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Second, Rossetto actually is among the longest-tenured players, who also were healthy, on the team. He joined before the 2020 season from Athletico Paranaense in his native Brazil. Pineda said he liked that the team’s supporters had that connection with Rossetto.

Rossetto also is playing as well as he ever has for the team.

A player who typically played more laterally than vertically the previous two seasons, Rossetto has started to move the ball forward to engage the attacking players. He already has almost as many progressive passes this season, 47, as all of last season, 46, in 325 fewer attempts.

Pineda said that is a result of the team getting a full preseason to learn preferred tactics. Last season, Pineda said the approach was more game-to-game in an attempt to win three points and eventually make the playoffs. With a better understanding of what Pineda wants, and of his teammates, Rossetto is able to show more of his potential.

“He's done a great job being calm, staying in the moment and not making the captaincy or any leadership position pull him out of his normal self. I think he's a good guy, and everyone likes him in the locker room."

- Brooks Lennon, on teammate and captain Matheus Rossetto

“… That is part of the mix of why he’s progressing in his game,” Pineda said. “One of my main requests to midfielders is they receive the ball in tough areas, they have to be able to progress the ball, whether it’s turning, whether it’s combining, I don’t care, they just need to move the ball from defenders to the attacking midfielders. And that’s the main goal for them. And he’s been understanding that.”

Rossetto’s ability to escape pressure in tight spaces reminds one of previous Atlanta United player Darlington Nagbe.

“He’s always reliable on the field, he wants the ball, he wants to play with some personality on the field, he’s able to turn under pressure,” Pineda said. “So the players respect him for that personality. Maybe he’s not loud, he’s not a guy that he’s going to yell at others; he is the guy that’s going to win the ball in tough moments of the game.”

Rossetto may not yell at his teammates, but he will do one thing that is a captain’s job: get into the referees.

Pineda laughed when that was pointed out because he said he needs help in that area. He became so infuriated with the referees in the game against Columbus that he received a red card after throwing down his jacket. Rossetto had been subbed off to start the second half and replaced by Martinez, who took the armband and picked up where Rossetto left off in expressing Atlanta United’s viewpoint about some of the calls being made.

“I like that for Rossetto, the position that he’s in the middle of the park,” Pineda said. “I like to have someone that can talk and can pass the messages around to everyone because they are the center of the team.”

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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 Atlanta United 2, Charlotte 1

March 19 Atlanta United 3, Montreal 3

April 2 Atlanta United 1, D.C. United 0

April 10 Charlotte 1, Atlanta United 0

April 16 Atlanta United 0, Cincinnati 0

April 24 Miami 2, Atlanta United 1

April 30 Montreal 2, Atlanta United 1

May 7 Atlanta United 4, Chicago 1

May 15 Atlanta United 2, New England 2