Atlanta United: Josef Martinez underscores his commitment to club
Josef Martinez returns
For Atlanta United, the firing of head coach Gabriel Heinze coincides with the return of Josef Martinez to the field. The star striker, banished to train away with his teammates a week ago, is back with the first team ahead of Wednesday night’s match at FC Cincinnati.
Saying that he wants “to live in the present,” Martinez didn’t explore in any great depth to the discord that led to his demotion a week ago.
“There wasn’t a problem, obviously I respect the decision the club has made. I have to be professional about this. The issues were resolved. Now I have to be professional,” Martinez said via a team translator in media availability this week.
“I have this year and I have two more years. The first time I come here, I say ‘this is my club, this is my city and I love to be here.’ I love this club.”
He also said that he is focused on returning to the field and helping turn around a difficult season for his club. The Atlanta United striker has two goals in seven appearances (four starts) in league play this season.
Last year, he missed all but one game after suffering a knee injury 69 minutes into the season.
Josef Martinez on Wednesday night
Atlanta United’s slow start to the season sees them currently out of the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference. Against an up-and-down opponent in FC Cincinnati, the hope for the ‘Five Stripes’ is to get their season on track with a road result. For Josef Martinez, it means a likely return to the field and possibly a starting spot after seven weeks away from MLS play.
Martinez missed time with Venezuela’s national team in Copa America and then his benching by Heinze this past weekend in a 1-0 home loss to the New England Revolution.
It was Wednesday’s match he wanted to talk about, not his future in MLS or his recent split with Heinze and the club.
“My present is tomorrow, we have a special game,” Martinez said.
“A beautiful game where there is going to be a lot of people. So we have to enjoy that game. In the future? I don’t know. I like to live in the present, see what happens.”
While Martinez didn’t discuss last week’s tiff with the now fired Heinze, he was diplomatic in his approach and his assurances about his commitment to the club.
“Their decision that you have to respect,” Martinez said.
“As a leader in the face of this club, I have to be professional and always try to support my teammates both on and off the field. So that’s what I always try to do.”
Follow Kristian Dyer of ‘MLS Multiplex‘ on Twitter @KristianRDyer