Dean Smith warned Charlotte FC he is not going to settle for them being outworked by an opponent for a second week working once they face Atlanta United in MLS on Saturday.
Smith’s second season in cost started with a degree as Charlotte drew 2-2 with the Seattle Sounders final week, with a late personal aim from Yeimar Gomez Andrade drawing them degree.
However Smith was not pleased with many elements of his crew’s efficiency, and as they put together to welcome rivals Atlanta to the Financial institution of America Stadium, he has known as for extra effort.
“We’ve achieved a evaluate on the sport, the opposition ran 5,000 kilometres greater than us. That’s a stat that I mentioned to the crew is damning on us,” Smith mentioned of the Seattle draw.
“Now we have to be higher, however they know that and so they can repair it as a result of it was one among our strengths final season.”
Smith was annoyed to see Charlotte solely declare a degree having led 1-0, and his focus is on making certain they get their efficiency ranges proper this week.
“I’m not even fascinated by or concentrating on the outcome as a result of that may occur, it’s the efficiency. The efficiency ranges must be proper,” he added.
“Regardless that we didn’t play effectively, we might have received the sport. I’ll concentrate on what I can repair.”
Y’all know we’ve solely bought one factor on our minds… pic.twitter.com/rr4vZkhlbW
— Charlotte FC (@CharlotteFC) February 27, 2025
Atlanta, in the meantime, beat CF Montreal 3-2 of their first league sport underneath new head coach Ronny Deila, and centre-back Stian Gregersen has been impressed by the power introduced by the previous Celtic boss.
“Clearly it’s early within the season, however simply the power to this point… The sensation is that guys are beginning to get extra used to enjoying alongside one another,” he mentioned.
“The largest distinction from final yr is we have now a extra aggressive crew now, in our complete squad.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Charlotte FC – Adilson Malanda
As he did towards New York Metropolis FC in 2024, Malanda scored Charlotte’s first aim of the season final Saturday in Seattle.
Malanda is one among two gamers in MLS, together with the Chicago Fireplace’s Brian Gutierrez, to attain his crew’s first aim of each the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
Atlanta United – Miguel Almiron
Almiron offered the help on the successful aim for Atlanta final Saturday, enjoying his first match for the membership since 2018.
The Paraguayan, who just lately returned from Newcastle United, has averaged 0.48 assists per 90 minutes in 69 MLS video games (together with playoffs), rating fifth amongst gamers which have performed 5,000 or extra minutes for the reason that begin of the 2010 season.
MATCH PREDICTION – CHARLOTTE FC WIN
Atlanta defeated Montreal of their season opener final weekend, the fourth time they’ve received their curtain-raising match within the final six seasons (D1 L1).
The 5 Stripes have solely managed to open a season with two straight wins as soon as, nevertheless, doing so in 2020 with victories over Nashville SC and FC Cincinnati.
They might be arduous pushed to take action right here. Charlotte have received three of their six all-time conferences with Atlanta, solely posting extra regular-season wins towards Chicago (5) and NYCFC (4).
The Crown have solely misplaced three of their final 29 matches at Financial institution of America Stadium, courting again to the start of June 2023 (W13 D13).
That’s the fewest house losses by any MLS crew throughout all competitions in that point, although a kind of defeats was towards Atlanta (0-1 on August 31, 2024).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Charlotte FC – 47.6%
Atlanta United – 26.2%
Draw – 26.1%
