MARIETTA, Ga. — Sports fans who’ve been starved of a championship for so many years console themselves by saying their city is “cursed.” Whether or not that’s true in Atlanta, a city that has gone without a major professional sports title since 1995, one thing is certain: Atlanta United are in position to finally deliver the crown.
The Five Stripes and head coach Tata Martino said they are determined to ensure that the opening leg of the Eastern Conference Championship Sunday (5 pm ET | ESPN, TSN2, TVAS, ESPN Deportes) isn’t the last time they walk out in front of more than 70,000 fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
While there are several motivating factors for Atlanta United players — be it personal achievement or winning one for Tata — Atlanta fans' desperation for a championship will be hard to ignore come Sunday.
“It’s a beautiful opportunity for us to give that joy to the people of Atlanta,” midfielder Miguel Almiron said through a translator. “I think the team has already made history in every sense, but [a championship] is what is missing. We’re calm, we’re working hard and hopefully, God willing, we’re able to achieve it, which is what all the players and fans want.”
Atlanta United players said they hope they can reciprocate to the fans through their performances against the New York Red Bulls the record-breaking level of support they’ve received this season, with more than one million fans passing through the turnstiles in 2018.
“I think for us it's about doing this for the city of Atlanta,” defender Greg Garza told reporters at Atlanta United’s training ground. “I think the stadium we have and the people that support us is something definitely to look forward to and hopefully our fans can bring the [energy] in this coming game.”
As for satiating the fans’ thirst for a championship, players said they are keenly aware of how long, and at times painful, it’s been for those in the city.
“We know it’s been quite some time, and that’s part of our motivation as well,” goalkeeper Brad Guzan said. “This city has been fantastic to this team and this club for the two years we’ve been in existence [on the field]. To give them a championship in Year 2 would be phenomenal. That’s definitely in our minds. It’s not going to be easy, so we’ve got to make sure our focus and concentration, and ultimately our performance is up to that level.”
If Atlanta does not progress past the New York Red Bulls to the MLS Cup final, Sunday’s match will be Atlanta United’s home finale. Martino suggested he’d motivate his players by reminding them of this fact, making sure “it’s the second to last time, not the last time we play in front of our fans.”
