Atlanta United’s 2023 MLS Cup playoffs run ended at Decrease.com Discipline when shedding 4-2 in opposition to Columbus Crew, inspiring head coach Gonzalo Pineda guilty defensive errors for his workforce’s demise.
This is not the primary time that the previous Seattle Sounders assistant introduced up lapses on his facet’s defending, prompting followers of the 5 Stripes to query whether or not or not Pineda ought to stay in cost for the 2024 season and past.
“Leaking targets has been our achilles heel all season and one factor we undoubtedly must take take a look at and the way we will solidify that,” Pineda mentioned after the defeat. “That doesn’t imply the defenders, goalkeepers, center-mids solely, it’s everybody as an entire. We have to do higher.”
Atlanta had no downside scoring targets in 2023, discovering the again of the web 66 occasions, which was solely second to the Crew’s 67. However on the other finish of the sphere, the Japanese Convention workforce conceded the sixth-most targets in MLS with 53, a telling signal that they had been mere pretenders main as much as the playoffs.
“Nicely, we conceded a few targets from exterior the field,” added Pineda.
“We had been good at limiting large possibilities within the first half, however these two targets took us somewhat bit abruptly. On the primary one by (Darlington) Nagbe, I feel we will do higher to dam that shot. I feel the angle we took on that one to dam the shot was off. The second is a superb objective … They disrupted us on that play after which it’s a improbable shot. After that, the third objective is a transition second the place we gave the ball away and didn’t react properly.”
The 5 Stripes hit a tough patch in the course of the summer time main as much as Leagues Cup, however had been among the finest sides on paper after the continental match up till the playoffs. There was critical development made Pineda’s workforce together with the additions of Tristan Muyumba, Saba Lobjanidze and Xande Silva, however they nonetheless had been unable to recover from the hump in a number of big-time matchups.
“I might say that it was an encouraging season. For me it’s going to take an extended evaluation on the season … What I mentioned earlier once more is that we have to do higher within the defensive part. If we’re in a position to keep that degree of attacking actions and manufacturing, however solidify somewhat bit extra our backline and defensive construction as an entire, I feel we will do higher. The final 10 video games had been encouraging.”
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