Atlanta United interim head coach Rob Valentino expressed the significance of specializing in the current forward of travelling to DC United at Audi Discipline on Thursday.
The 5 Stripes have received simply one in every of their final 12 league video games, relationship again to the start of April, however might be hoping to return to profitable methods in opposition to their opponents, who they beat in Might to finish their final winless run within the MLS.
Atlanta are some extent above backside facet New England Revolution, having performed a recreation much less, and know a win is a should to construct momentum for the remainder of the season.
Nonetheless, Valentino was eager to give attention to the long run, and insists his facet are persevering with to push to get factors on the board.
“In actuality, what I talked about final week was that’s the previous,” stated Valentino. “We clearly did our analysis and now now we have moved ahead.
“It’s about how we will progress and get higher. So, in that sense, it’s been about recreation one in every of Houston, and now we have talked about being current.
“We’re going to maintain pushing ahead on how we will proceed to get higher and get the outcomes we would like.”
Full-time from Charlotte. pic.twitter.com/TvGgxHCx9g
— D.C. United (@dcunited) June 16, 2024
In the meantime, DC United are enduring a dropping streak of their very own, having gone six video games with out a victory (D2 L4) following their defeat to Charlotte on Saturday.
The Black-and-Pink come into the competition sitting tenth within the Jap Convention, however have picked up their final two factors in entrance of their dwelling supporters.
Regardless of their current kind, head coach Troy Lesesne believes enhancements have been made on the pitch and is hopeful of returning to profitable methods.
“You can see that there was progress,” Lesesne stated. “You can see that there have been areas that we wished to establish popping out of the primary half of the season.
“We made some superb steps in a variety of methods, and now we have to maintain staying on that path as a result of the distinction may be very small proper now between realising the end result we would like, and feeling like how we did in opposition to Toronto.
“We’ve to regroup, now we have to reset, and now we have to once more in opposition to Atlanta.”
Prepared for takeoff pic.twitter.com/XhaAuvmnwV
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) June 18, 2024
PLAYERS TO WATCH
DC United – Christian Benteke
The Belgian striker is arising in opposition to one in every of his favoured opponents and scored a hat-trick the final time he confronted Atlanta United.
Since his arrival within the MLS, Benteke has solely scored extra objectives in opposition to New England Revolution (5).
Atlanta United – Xande Silva
Silva has scored in every of his final two MLS matches after having scored solely twice in his first 20 profession league appearances.
The one participant for the reason that begin of the 2022 season to attain in three straight league video games for Atlanta was Giorgos Giakoumakis (twice).
MATCH PREDICTION: ATLANTA UNITED WIN
Each side come into the competition at Audi Discipline in poor kind, and are hopeful of returning to profitable methods to maneuver up the Jap Convention desk.
DC United’s 3-2 win at Atlanta in Might ended a six-match winless run for them in opposition to the 5 Stripes (D1 L5).
Nonetheless, Atlanta are unbeaten of their final 4 matches away at DC (W3 D1) after dropping every of their first 4 visits.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
DC United – 35.4%
Draw – 26%
Atlanta United – 38.6%
