Atlanta United vs FC Cincinnati: 3 things we learned – all but eliminated
By Josh Bouland
2. Left side issues all game long
Most Atlanta United fans were surprised with one particular choice in the starting XI. George Bello, who started the first game at left wing-back against the New York Red Bulls and played well overall, was nowhere to be found in the matchday squad. Manager Frank de Boer dropped Bello, initially assumed by fans as punishment for the single goal conceded in the first game.
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After the match, it was revealed that de Boer planned to sit Bello regardless of the first game’s outcome. However, that decision created a sequence of unfortunate events. Without Bello, de Boer started Jake Mulraney in his place. Mulraney picked up the red card early on, which forced de Boer to go to veteran Edgar Castillo.
Castillo was meant as a depth option when he signed with the team during the offseason. He was never meant to get serious minutes given his age and recent journeyman status in MLS. Yet, it was Castillo who saw the bulk of the minutes on the left flank. This hurt Atlanta, especially when coupled with taking off Adam Jahn.
In hindsight, it seems that holding Bello out of the squad entirely was a mistake. Whether the teenager should have started is debatable. Mulraney proved himself valuable at the position earlier in the season, but Bello was needed from off the bench, but de Boer did not have him there.