Atlanta United’s excuse for NYCFC loss? Being ‘tired’

New York City midfielder James Sands (16) and Atlanta United midfielder Marcelino Moreno (10) battle for the ball during the second half at Red Bull Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports
New York City midfielder James Sands (16) and Atlanta United midfielder Marcelino Moreno (10) battle for the ball during the second half at Red Bull Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Atlanta United head coach Gabriel Heinze blamed his team’s midweek loss at New York City FC on fatigue. While they may be tired, Heinze’s excuse misses the point for a team that has struggled for well over two months.

Atlanta United lost 1-0 at New York City FC on Wednesday, not a terrible result but certainly another discouraging performance.

What is terrible is their recent form. Atlanta United has three points from their last four matches. They have won once in their last seven games. Head coach Gabriel Heinze said after the match this was a tired team that lost at Red Bull Arena on Wednesday night.

More from MLS Multiplex

“From my point view, the analysis is simple. If the other team has the ball, it is because our team is too far from the ball,” Heinze told reporters after the match.

“We played with a lot of fouls. That’s a sign. When we had the ball, we didn’t move in an appropriate way. We don’t think it’s because of the midfield. I think we saw today a team that was tired.”

Yea, sure. But no.

This is more than fatigue. True Atlanta United played on Sunday, a 2-2 home draw against the Philadelphia Union. They should be fatigued.

But they’re coming off a three-week layoff. This isn’t a team that is rundown. If they are, that falls on Heinze. If his team is tired, the squad should be rotated more effectively. And New York City FC played on Saturday, giving them just one extra day at rest albeit they played at home.

The excuse from Heinze is weak to say the least. Atlanta United isn’t the first team to ever play a midweek match.

And in full analysis of their performance against New York City FC, this is certainly not a team that looks like an MLS Cup contender.

In fact, the playoffs are a stretch at this juncture for this team. They can and should make the playoffs given their talent. But this run of results is very telling.

With the midweek loss, Atlanta United is in eleventh place in the Eastern Conference on 11 points (2-2-5 record).

It would also be easy to blame the performance on the lack of Heinze on the sideline as the Atlanta United gaffer was suspended from the match. But the issues with this team have been on display for far longer than just Wednesday night.

Which is why the fatigue excuse tells a singular part of the story as to why Atlanta United is not winning like they should.

Despite holding 53 percent possession, Atlanta United struggle to create bona fide opportunities in the final third. And defensively, they were again prone to break downs and mistakes.

These are long-term issues that the club has struggled with, including their inability to close out games and hold on to leads.

And for a team with so much offensive firepower, the lack of goals is concerning. During the stretch of seven games from which they have just one win, Atlanta United has scored multiple goals just twice.

(And neither one of those games was an Atlanta United win, for what it is worth).

It might be the time for Atlanta United to become a bit more cynical. Perhaps focus less on possession and building out of the back and be willing to scratch and claw a bit.

Any type of fight was lacking from their performance. Frustration was apparent, but this didn’t seem like a team with a good backbone to pull themselves up when things got difficult against New York City FC.

“New York City is a good team, but in terms of improvement, we can improve all over the pitch –it’s not just one area,” Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan said after the match.

“When it comes to building out of the back, you need players up top to be able to move and want the ball and be able to accomplish what we’re trying to in trying. And ultimately on a match day, you need everyone on the same page. We could talk about tiredness, you could talk about mental fatigue, you could talk about whatever you want, but we leave guys on islands at times, with the ball, and you’re ultimately going to turn the ball over.

“Whether that’s in the defensive third, middle third, attacking third, I’m sure [the media] will know better than me, but in terms of opportunities created, I’m not sure we had a whole lot.”

Follow Kristian Dyer of ‘MLS Multiplex’ on Twitter @KristianRDyer