ATL Standard

Atlanta United is set to play its first match after nearly three weeks off due to the Leagues Cup break. Saturday's game marks the beginning of a nine-match stretch to close out the regular season.

Currently, Atlanta United sits ninth in the Eastern Conference, just ahead of Philadelphia, Montréal, and Nashville—teams they will face later in the season. Their next match is against the Los Angeles Galaxy of the Western Conference on Saturday.

Before departing for their West Coast trip, goalkeeper Brad Guzan and interim head coach Rob Valentino addressed local media on Thursday. They discussed using the break as a reset, preparing for the match against Los Angeles, and how newly signed designated player Alexey Miranchuk is adjusting.

Along with pushing to secure a playoff spot, the arrival of midfielder Miranchuk has generated energy around the club. He joined only weeks after Atlanta United signed defender Pedro Amador. While Amador has already played for the squad, including starting against Santos Laguna in a Leagues Cup match, Miranchuk continues to acclimate.

When asked about Miranchuk's potential participation against L.A., Valentino stated it would depend on how he feels. Miranchuk began training with the team on Tuesday.

Valentino also provided an update on striker Daniel Ríos, who was injured during the Santos Laguna match. “He will go to L.A. and hopefully be available for the match,” said Valentino.

Since joining in March, Ríos has been one of Atlanta’s most productive offensive players. The team's availability report will be released Friday afternoon.

After a busy few months with multiple double-match weeks, Atlanta United used this break to reassess both tactically and mentally. Guzan and Valentino expressed that despite not achieving their desired outcome in the Leagues Cup, they entered the break with a positive mindset.

“For us, it has been a time to hit the reset button and really look at things,” said Guzan. “We have been able to use it to our advantage. We understand the necessity to get points. We understand the urgency.”

Guzan likened this period to a mini preseason due to new faces joining during the secondary transfer window. Players like Bartosz Slisz, Derrick Williams, and Stian Gregersen found their footing earlier in 2024; now Amador and Miranchuk aim to contribute similarly.

Miranchuk trained with his new team for the first time on Tuesday. During an introductory press conference, he spoke about his love for hip hop and thanked fans who attended Supporters Day.

“His quality is evident,” said Guzan about Miranchuk’s integration into the team dynamic. “And you know what he brings to the field... we have been trying to help him get settled as much as possible so that he can focus on the field.”

Miranchuk previously played for Atalanta BC in Italy’s Serie A and ranked fourth in expected goal contributions last season among top league players globally.

“His skillset is different,” said Valentino regarding how Miranchuk will be deployed compared to other transferred players. “With Alexey... he can facilitate for his teammates and hopefully create for himself.”

The goal is for Miranchuk to complement other offensive players like Ríos, Saba Lobjanidze, and Jamal Thiaré.

The Galaxy currently leads the Western Conference with 49 points. Like Atlanta United, they utilized recent transfer opportunities by acquiring German international Marco Reus alongside key players Riqui Puig, Gabriel Pec, and Diego Fagúndez.

When asked if they planned specifically for Reus’ arrival, Valentino mentioned focusing on overall trends shown by Galaxy rather than individual players.

“I think every game we play will be difficult... So it is about limiting space where they (the Galaxy) can operate,” said Valentino.

Fans can watch Saturday's 10:30 p.m. ET kickoff on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV or listen locally on 92.9 The Game or Sirius XM Channel 157.