WEBVTT 1 00:00:09.800 --> 00:00:10.320 Welcome in. 2 00:00:10.599 --> 00:00:14.599 It's time for an Atlanta United two season preview on 3 00:00:14.679 --> 00:00:17.960 the SDH Network. I'm Jason Longshore, Madison Cruse, and I 4 00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:21.000 had the chance to catch up with lots of folks 5 00:00:21.120 --> 00:00:23.519 as we get ready for the Atlanta United two season 6 00:00:23.519 --> 00:00:26.600 opener tonight. You can listen to it. You can listen 7 00:00:26.640 --> 00:00:30.079 to most Atlanta United two matches on the SDH Network 8 00:00:30.160 --> 00:00:33.960 all season long. We will have the radio calls for you. 9 00:00:33.960 --> 00:00:36.240 You can listen on our Mixler channel. You can also 10 00:00:36.320 --> 00:00:38.880 listen by going to Soccer down Here dot net and 11 00:00:38.960 --> 00:00:41.920 clicking listen at the top of the page. Let's start 12 00:00:41.920 --> 00:00:45.759 things off with Madison and head coach Steve Cook. 13 00:00:48.799 --> 00:00:51.320 Steve, I guess for starters, you know, how is the 14 00:00:51.320 --> 00:00:53.399 preseason ben for you guys? And you know what's the 15 00:00:53.560 --> 00:00:54.960 energy heading into Friday? 16 00:00:55.439 --> 00:00:58.679 Well, I think first it's been really enjoyable. The players 17 00:00:59.000 --> 00:01:01.799 have really worked hard brought into what we're trying to achieve. 18 00:01:02.880 --> 00:01:03.799 The spirit is good. 19 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:06.959 But at this time of year, when nobody's got any 20 00:01:06.959 --> 00:01:11.079 points and you've not played any real exciting games, then 21 00:01:11.799 --> 00:01:13.840 of course we're all in good, good spirits, you know. 22 00:01:14.200 --> 00:01:16.959 But I think it looks a very together group. It 23 00:01:16.959 --> 00:01:20.239 looks a group that can play well together as well. 24 00:01:20.799 --> 00:01:23.400 So we have some high hopes, but I'm assuming every 25 00:01:23.439 --> 00:01:25.319 single other team in the league has high hopes too. 26 00:01:26.640 --> 00:01:30.799 We talked to Cooper, Ryan and Ronan you know, earlier. 27 00:01:31.560 --> 00:01:33.120 What has it been like adding in some of those 28 00:01:33.159 --> 00:01:36.120 new players a lot of experience, and then also having 29 00:01:36.480 --> 00:01:38.959 a lot of those younger players that are still developing 30 00:01:39.040 --> 00:01:41.079 but have played with you before, all kind of coming 31 00:01:41.079 --> 00:01:42.120 together to form this group. 32 00:01:42.280 --> 00:01:45.719 It's been incredible because I think the players that have 33 00:01:45.879 --> 00:01:48.680 been introduced to the group this year have really come 34 00:01:48.719 --> 00:01:52.439 in shown so much leadership and real good quality as well. 35 00:01:53.079 --> 00:01:55.719 And I think because of that, the young players have 36 00:01:55.799 --> 00:01:58.239 had people to look up to, which they have always 37 00:01:58.280 --> 00:02:00.799 had in the past, and I think not only they're 38 00:02:00.799 --> 00:02:02.480 looking up to them, but they're also looking at them 39 00:02:02.480 --> 00:02:05.159 and going, these guys are good players, and therefore. 40 00:02:04.760 --> 00:02:06.400 We need to step up in our game. 41 00:02:06.760 --> 00:02:09.639 So I think it's good from not only helping them 42 00:02:10.120 --> 00:02:12.840 learn how to be professional players, but also helping them 43 00:02:12.879 --> 00:02:16.439 improve as players, and also giving them a serious competition 44 00:02:16.479 --> 00:02:19.520 because obviously it's going to be performance based and whether 45 00:02:19.560 --> 00:02:23.199 you're twenty three or thirteen, whoever plays well gets the spot. 46 00:02:23.319 --> 00:02:27.719 So it's really creating that incredibly good dynamic of togetherness, 47 00:02:27.759 --> 00:02:30.360 but it's also creating a dynamic of competition, which is 48 00:02:30.439 --> 00:02:31.360 exactly what we need. 49 00:02:31.879 --> 00:02:32.639 Have you seen it? 50 00:02:32.680 --> 00:02:34.879 Has it kind of come together really quickly for you? 51 00:02:34.919 --> 00:02:37.639 Have you really seen everyone click immediately or has it 52 00:02:37.680 --> 00:02:39.960 been a little bit of a slow building but you're 53 00:02:39.960 --> 00:02:42.039 getting to a point where you're seeing everything come together. 54 00:02:42.240 --> 00:02:43.159 Yeah, that's a good question. 55 00:02:43.240 --> 00:02:46.639 I think in the early stages, maybe after a week 56 00:02:46.759 --> 00:02:50.039 or two, we said, we've got some good guys here. 57 00:02:50.080 --> 00:02:55.159 You know, We've got some really highly intelligent people, some 58 00:02:55.240 --> 00:02:58.759 really highly motivated people, and we've got some people who 59 00:02:59.319 --> 00:03:03.560 care about out each other and care about the profession 60 00:03:03.599 --> 00:03:05.800 and the role that we all have. And I think 61 00:03:06.240 --> 00:03:09.159 because of that, it's just gradually improved, you know. And 62 00:03:09.400 --> 00:03:12.080 the players have really taken it on board. And it's 63 00:03:12.120 --> 00:03:14.680 the players team. They're leading the charge. And we've got 64 00:03:14.680 --> 00:03:19.960 some really really great people who are showed real signs 65 00:03:19.960 --> 00:03:22.840 of good leadership and they're really taking it on board. 66 00:03:22.840 --> 00:03:25.919 And I think we've got a nice blend. And again, 67 00:03:26.159 --> 00:03:28.680 it's going to be a performance bace, so whoever plays 68 00:03:28.719 --> 00:03:31.400 well plays and it won't just be about giving young 69 00:03:31.479 --> 00:03:33.560 kids a go and it won't just be about playing 70 00:03:33.599 --> 00:03:35.919 people to win the games. It's going to be a 71 00:03:35.960 --> 00:03:40.719 really good blend of competitive people, good people who care 72 00:03:40.800 --> 00:03:44.479 about the team and care about winning, and then you know, 73 00:03:44.479 --> 00:03:46.280 hopefully that will take us a long way this year. 74 00:03:46.680 --> 00:03:49.039 I want to ask about Hobby or armis obviously returning 75 00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:52.080 from last season, how have you seen his game improve 76 00:03:52.360 --> 00:03:55.080 in the preseason from last year and also to just 77 00:03:55.599 --> 00:03:57.719 being that leader as we know that we've seen him 78 00:03:57.800 --> 00:04:00.479 last season be that captain. You know, how has he 79 00:04:00.599 --> 00:04:02.800 really embraced it and taken on to it this season? 80 00:04:03.520 --> 00:04:09.639 Well? Have he's come back in as the captain, as 81 00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:10.159 the leader? 82 00:04:11.120 --> 00:04:14.199 But it's easier to lead other leaders who want to 83 00:04:14.199 --> 00:04:16.839 come with you than it is to just drag along 84 00:04:17.199 --> 00:04:18.920 a bunch of people who don't want to do that. 85 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:23.759 He's setting high standards. We're all setting high standards, and 86 00:04:23.839 --> 00:04:30.600 people are either maintaining those standards, improving those standards, or 87 00:04:30.600 --> 00:04:31.639 they're getting left behind. 88 00:04:31.759 --> 00:04:33.480 So I think have he's showing that? 89 00:04:33.519 --> 00:04:36.800 But more importantly as a player, I think he's come 90 00:04:36.839 --> 00:04:40.560 back in in great shape, in great form, and I 91 00:04:40.600 --> 00:04:43.800 think he's going to not only be a good leader 92 00:04:43.800 --> 00:04:45.160 for our team, but I think He's going to be 93 00:04:45.199 --> 00:04:48.160 somebody who, whether it's this club or somewhere else, is 94 00:04:48.160 --> 00:04:50.240 really going to kick on because I think, you know, 95 00:04:50.279 --> 00:04:53.319 his performance last Saturday, for example, against the USL Championship 96 00:04:53.319 --> 00:04:56.680 team was absolutely outstanding. So I think he's got a very, 97 00:04:56.839 --> 00:04:59.639 very bright future in the game. Is playing at a 98 00:04:59.720 --> 00:05:02.920 level that I've not seen a twos player play in 99 00:05:02.920 --> 00:05:06.319 the past, and long may that continue, And hopefully that 100 00:05:06.360 --> 00:05:08.439 now means other players also keep up with him and 101 00:05:09.199 --> 00:05:11.879 even surpass him as well, because that's the nature of 102 00:05:11.959 --> 00:05:14.160 what we're doing. You know, we want to create healthy competition. 103 00:05:14.240 --> 00:05:17.480 We want to create a positive tension in the group 104 00:05:17.519 --> 00:05:20.600 where it's about intensity and competition, but it's also about 105 00:05:20.959 --> 00:05:23.360 bringing each other together and bringing each other along and 106 00:05:23.360 --> 00:05:25.839 have he is the embodiment of that in our group. 107 00:05:26.480 --> 00:05:29.160 I want to ask about a player that we talked 108 00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:31.399 a lot about last season as well, but Dominic chunk Wi. 109 00:05:32.399 --> 00:05:34.959 Seeing his development, seeing him get that time with the 110 00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:38.000 first team in the preseason, also getting his first EMLS 111 00:05:38.079 --> 00:05:41.279 debut with the team against Charlotte. What does it mean 112 00:05:41.319 --> 00:05:45.120 to you to see him flourish under you with the 113 00:05:45.160 --> 00:05:48.040 twos and now see him really step up more into 114 00:05:48.079 --> 00:05:49.120 this professional realm. 115 00:05:49.560 --> 00:05:52.160 Well, first, I'm delighted for Dominic. You know, is a 116 00:05:52.199 --> 00:05:55.199 really good person. He's a very hard working young man. 117 00:05:55.439 --> 00:05:57.279 He's earned it every step of the way. He wasn't 118 00:05:57.319 --> 00:06:00.000 given anything. He wasn't given a contract before he'd played well. 119 00:05:59.920 --> 00:06:00.560 For the twos. 120 00:06:00.560 --> 00:06:03.399 He was always in a situation where he was chasing 121 00:06:03.439 --> 00:06:06.720 and chasing. He's been a little fortunate with probably or 122 00:06:06.800 --> 00:06:09.839 we are unfortunate with a few injuries in early preseason 123 00:06:09.879 --> 00:06:12.439 with the first team, so then he's ready to step in. 124 00:06:12.480 --> 00:06:14.480 But as I say all the time, it's only an 125 00:06:14.519 --> 00:06:17.319 opportunity if you're ready for the opportunity. Otherwise it's not 126 00:06:17.360 --> 00:06:19.240 an opportunity at all. You're just going to go along 127 00:06:19.279 --> 00:06:22.120 for the ride. And I think he's shown the first 128 00:06:22.160 --> 00:06:25.000 team staff, all who didn't know him before apart from one, 129 00:06:26.240 --> 00:06:29.000 that he not only can be a good person for 130 00:06:29.079 --> 00:06:31.560 training and has the right mentality and has the right 131 00:06:33.519 --> 00:06:35.759 physical makeup to play the game, but he's also got 132 00:06:35.759 --> 00:06:38.480 some qualities that can really help the first team. I'm 133 00:06:38.519 --> 00:06:40.240 so pleased to get on the field because I think 134 00:06:40.319 --> 00:06:43.399 once you've got that first ten to fifteen minutes behind you, 135 00:06:43.680 --> 00:06:46.040 it life becomes a little bit more easy. 136 00:06:46.120 --> 00:06:49.759 And you feel like you're in the group. But he 137 00:06:49.800 --> 00:06:50.600 has a long way to go. 138 00:06:50.920 --> 00:06:54.560 He's seventeen, just and he's got to get some real 139 00:06:54.639 --> 00:06:57.759 serious minutes this year with us, and frankly he's got 140 00:06:57.759 --> 00:06:59.600 to play well for the twos as well when he 141 00:06:59.600 --> 00:07:02.040 plays a year. He's already had his two call ups 142 00:07:02.079 --> 00:07:05.120 and maybe there's going to be more in the near future. 143 00:07:05.160 --> 00:07:08.360 But I think wherever he plays, whenever he plays, he 144 00:07:08.800 --> 00:07:12.160 has to be a player who everybody notices not only 145 00:07:12.240 --> 00:07:16.519 has been a young player with potential, but a high performing. 146 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:20.160 Player with a great deal more to give in the future. 147 00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:22.240 I think that is really what he's got a knuckle 148 00:07:22.279 --> 00:07:25.920 down on and I think he can. Sometimes in football 149 00:07:25.959 --> 00:07:29.120 you never know, right and you know you need a 150 00:07:29.160 --> 00:07:31.160 little bit of good fortune and look along the way, 151 00:07:31.839 --> 00:07:34.639 and I'm hoping he gets that because he's a terrific 152 00:07:34.680 --> 00:07:38.600 young man with hopefully a really high level and very 153 00:07:38.600 --> 00:07:39.959 bright future ahead of him. 154 00:07:40.279 --> 00:07:43.800 Last couple ones, looking back at last season and then 155 00:07:43.839 --> 00:07:45.839 going into this one, what were some of the things 156 00:07:45.879 --> 00:07:50.079 that you wanted to see change and really really improve 157 00:07:50.120 --> 00:07:51.519 as you guys head into this new season. 158 00:07:53.680 --> 00:07:55.959 I think as we end the season, you know you're 159 00:07:56.000 --> 00:07:59.560 always looking forward and saying, well, how can we improve 160 00:07:59.600 --> 00:08:02.079 the group? And one of the key things for me 161 00:08:02.279 --> 00:08:08.079 was having better leaders throughout the group, better character and 162 00:08:08.120 --> 00:08:13.360 attitude and training habits throughout the group. But also a 163 00:08:13.399 --> 00:08:16.439 player in every position who we can rely on assigned 164 00:08:16.519 --> 00:08:18.720 two's player in every position that we can rely on 165 00:08:18.759 --> 00:08:21.759 to be there every day, working hard every day, being 166 00:08:21.800 --> 00:08:24.720 a good player every day in training, so that we 167 00:08:24.759 --> 00:08:27.600 can then improve the environment for everybody and especially the 168 00:08:27.600 --> 00:08:32.360 young ones. And then from there, I think then it's 169 00:08:32.440 --> 00:08:35.399 just looking at more of instead of just signing good players, 170 00:08:35.440 --> 00:08:37.720 can we sign good players who can blend together? So 171 00:08:38.039 --> 00:08:40.759 these were two key pieces for me. Blend together as 172 00:08:40.759 --> 00:08:45.080 players have the right plaining qualities that match together. But 173 00:08:45.120 --> 00:08:49.559 then I think again that blend of characters, that blend 174 00:08:49.600 --> 00:08:52.600 of people that trust each other and work hard for 175 00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:55.519 each other, and no matter what, are going to be giving. 176 00:08:55.759 --> 00:08:59.320 They're all especially on bad days. You know, it's always 177 00:08:59.480 --> 00:09:02.080 easy when you're doing well on the field and you 178 00:09:02.120 --> 00:09:04.480 know you're winning three nil to give everything, But what 179 00:09:04.559 --> 00:09:06.240 about the days when we're not doing so well or 180 00:09:06.279 --> 00:09:08.200 we're struggling as a group. And I think we have 181 00:09:08.240 --> 00:09:11.159 a group of guys who are going to really do 182 00:09:11.200 --> 00:09:14.039 that this year and can win games in different ways 183 00:09:14.080 --> 00:09:16.240 as well. Yes, when we're playing really well, but also 184 00:09:16.279 --> 00:09:18.759 when we need to do a little bit of dirty work. Think, 185 00:09:18.799 --> 00:09:20.320 I think we've got some guys who can do that 186 00:09:20.360 --> 00:09:25.720 as well. So we're excited and we're very optimistic, and 187 00:09:25.759 --> 00:09:29.080 we're very positive about what we've seen and what hopefully 188 00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:31.519 will come. But again, feet on the ground, we have 189 00:09:31.600 --> 00:09:35.039 no points. Fortunately, nobody else has any points either. 190 00:09:36.360 --> 00:09:38.360 How do you want the team to play this year? 191 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:40.679 Like the style of play that you guys want to 192 00:09:40.679 --> 00:09:41.320 see on the field? 193 00:09:42.360 --> 00:09:43.960 You know, this question is. 194 00:09:45.919 --> 00:09:49.840 An interesting question because every coach gets asked this, and 195 00:09:50.440 --> 00:09:51.720 I don't want to be the cliched. 196 00:09:52.399 --> 00:09:53.840 You know, we want to have the ball and then 197 00:09:53.879 --> 00:09:56.120 we want to go win it back and that stuff. 198 00:09:56.600 --> 00:09:59.720 I think we need to have a team that, regardless 199 00:09:59.720 --> 00:10:03.120 of the situation of the game, regardless of our opponents, 200 00:10:03.159 --> 00:10:06.759 we can impose ourselves on the game. We can be ourselves, 201 00:10:06.799 --> 00:10:09.200 whether it be a buildout game or whether it be 202 00:10:09.240 --> 00:10:12.840 something that's high pressing or something even when we don't 203 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:14.799 have the ball. Do we have a team that can 204 00:10:15.320 --> 00:10:17.919 perform really well and be in control of the game 205 00:10:18.519 --> 00:10:19.519 with and without the ball? 206 00:10:19.559 --> 00:10:21.679 And that means sometimes we're going to be up against it. 207 00:10:21.759 --> 00:10:23.679 Sometimes we're not going to play well, but we can 208 00:10:23.720 --> 00:10:26.000 still control the game and get a result, and a 209 00:10:26.039 --> 00:10:28.320 team that can win games in a couple of different ways, 210 00:10:28.360 --> 00:10:32.080 because make no mistake, in American soccer, and especially in 211 00:10:32.080 --> 00:10:35.240 Major League soccer, you can winning away from home. 212 00:10:35.399 --> 00:10:37.919 Is hard, but you can do it, and. 213 00:10:37.720 --> 00:10:39.559 It just means you might have to play a slightly 214 00:10:39.600 --> 00:10:42.559 different way for periods in a game or even the 215 00:10:42.600 --> 00:10:45.240 whole game. But I think we have a group of 216 00:10:45.279 --> 00:10:48.159 people who are invested in that part of it this 217 00:10:48.279 --> 00:10:52.200 year and are truly on board with trying to not 218 00:10:52.240 --> 00:10:55.639 only play well and play a nice, attractive brand, but 219 00:10:55.679 --> 00:11:00.200 are also very invested in winning games and being not 220 00:11:00.240 --> 00:11:04.360 only competitive, but going past that and actually being one 221 00:11:04.399 --> 00:11:06.480 of the best teams in the league. And you know, 222 00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:08.840 it's a long way to go with I think twenty 223 00:11:08.840 --> 00:11:11.159 eight league games, so we have to show that from 224 00:11:11.159 --> 00:11:13.919 the beginning. But then it's about consistency and we have 225 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:15.159 to keep that consistency. 226 00:11:15.159 --> 00:11:16.440 We've had a great preseason. 227 00:11:17.000 --> 00:11:21.080 It is only preseason, but the consistency of attitude and 228 00:11:21.159 --> 00:11:23.639 work has been there, and hopefully we can see that 229 00:11:23.720 --> 00:11:26.000 not only on Friday, but we can see that for 230 00:11:26.039 --> 00:11:27.360 the twenty seven games after that. 231 00:11:27.879 --> 00:11:30.519 Speaking of Friday, a good challenge for you guys going 232 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:32.960 up against New York Red Bulls too. You know how 233 00:11:32.960 --> 00:11:35.360 they're going to play. You know, what are some of 234 00:11:35.360 --> 00:11:36.559 the things that you guys are going to try to 235 00:11:36.600 --> 00:11:38.600 do to minimize what they do on the field. 236 00:11:39.639 --> 00:11:39.879 Yeah. 237 00:11:39.919 --> 00:11:42.279 I mean, when you're seeing Red bull team, whether it's 238 00:11:42.320 --> 00:11:45.399 in Leipzig or Salzburg or New York. 239 00:11:45.600 --> 00:11:47.639 You're going to get. You're going to get what you see. 240 00:11:50.240 --> 00:11:52.679 Like we've seen for years and years, a very energetic, 241 00:11:52.840 --> 00:11:56.159 very brave, high pressing team who maybe go man to 242 00:11:56.200 --> 00:11:58.279 man at times and risk it a little bit at 243 00:11:58.320 --> 00:12:03.480 the back, outstanding the counterpress, very solid in terms of 244 00:12:04.279 --> 00:12:07.000 their attitude to wanting to win the game and do 245 00:12:07.159 --> 00:12:10.559 some of the dirty work that doesn't get noticed all 246 00:12:10.600 --> 00:12:13.279 the time. And they've got good players who can play now. 247 00:12:13.320 --> 00:12:15.639 And I think there's been a shift in the Red 248 00:12:15.639 --> 00:12:17.320 bullet a little bit the last few years. I have 249 00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:21.720 so much admiration for that sporting group in general, because 250 00:12:21.759 --> 00:12:25.519 I think they're always adapting, they're always innovating, and they 251 00:12:25.559 --> 00:12:28.480 really are an exciting team to watch. I think all 252 00:12:28.519 --> 00:12:30.919 of the games that Red Bull are in, you would say, 253 00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:33.600 are exciting. Our job is to make sure we're so 254 00:12:33.679 --> 00:12:36.000 good with the ball that we can eliminate that press. 255 00:12:36.759 --> 00:12:38.919 And then when we do make mistakes and we do 256 00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:41.440 give the ball away, we have to physically match their 257 00:12:41.480 --> 00:12:43.679 output as well, and if not match it, we have 258 00:12:43.720 --> 00:12:47.480 to go beyond it. And I think they're always exciting games. 259 00:12:47.559 --> 00:12:49.679 Usually we have games that are full of goals with them, 260 00:12:50.559 --> 00:12:53.080 hopefully they're only going in our direction and not in 261 00:12:53.120 --> 00:12:55.759 the other way. And I think, look, it's a home 262 00:12:55.799 --> 00:12:58.440 opener and it's a first game of a season, so 263 00:12:58.519 --> 00:13:00.240 none of us know what we're really going to get. 264 00:13:00.279 --> 00:13:02.679 You know, nobody's really got too much video on each other. 265 00:13:03.440 --> 00:13:06.519 But I do think that our boys are prepared and 266 00:13:06.559 --> 00:13:09.360 I think we understand what Red Bull are gonna bring 267 00:13:09.440 --> 00:13:12.759 to us, But they might have a few worries of 268 00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:15.600 their own against us, you know. I think our challenge 269 00:13:15.639 --> 00:13:20.559 is to be ourselves, dominate and impose our will on 270 00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:22.840 them and also kill the will of them and the 271 00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:25.840 spirit of them, because we know that if we don't 272 00:13:25.879 --> 00:13:27.960 do that, then Red Bull can get on top of 273 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:32.039 you pretty quick. So again, it's exciting feet on the ground, 274 00:13:32.120 --> 00:13:36.720 but it's we're very positive and very hopeful that we 275 00:13:36.759 --> 00:13:38.279 can have a good start. 276 00:13:38.039 --> 00:13:39.039 For the season on Friday. 277 00:13:39.960 --> 00:13:43.480 Next up on our Atlanta United to twenty twenty five 278 00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:49.519 season preview, let's hear from homegrown future homegrown midfielder currently 279 00:13:49.799 --> 00:13:53.399 with Atlanta United to Cooper Sanchez as we catch up 280 00:13:53.399 --> 00:13:57.720 with him about his off season and expectations for twenty 281 00:13:57.759 --> 00:13:59.440 twenty five Perfect. 282 00:13:59.480 --> 00:14:01.039 I mean, I guess we'll start off. You know, how 283 00:14:01.080 --> 00:14:03.080 excited are you for the first game of the season 284 00:14:03.080 --> 00:14:03.519 on Friday. 285 00:14:03.639 --> 00:14:03.799 Yeah. 286 00:14:03.840 --> 00:14:07.080 I think we've been building all preseason. I think we 287 00:14:07.159 --> 00:14:10.240 have a really strong team this year to do something special, 288 00:14:10.279 --> 00:14:12.399 and I think we're just randing to go. You know, 289 00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:15.759 we've done well in preseason, so just ready to go. 290 00:14:16.120 --> 00:14:18.799 You've also had an exciting offseason as well, going with 291 00:14:18.840 --> 00:14:21.519 the U seventeens for the US men's national team. You know, 292 00:14:22.240 --> 00:14:22.679 we're with. 293 00:14:22.600 --> 00:14:24.159 Them when they qualified for the World Cup. 294 00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:25.679 What was that experience like for you? 295 00:14:26.039 --> 00:14:29.080 Yeah, I mean the my call up was you know, 296 00:14:29.159 --> 00:14:31.080 I feel myself I deserved it. 297 00:14:31.639 --> 00:14:33.759 I've been you know, working hard. 298 00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:35.879 Doing well in my obviously here in my environment, so 299 00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:38.200 but to get together with you know, the best players 300 00:14:38.240 --> 00:14:40.440 in my age group, to represent our country, to. 301 00:14:40.480 --> 00:14:42.279 Qualify for a World Cup was I mean huge. 302 00:14:43.080 --> 00:14:45.759 Every game was you know, like a World Cup final 303 00:14:45.840 --> 00:14:47.840 to be honest, because all you needed to do was 304 00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:49.840 top of your group and we did that, won all 305 00:14:49.879 --> 00:14:53.159 three games. And yeah, now the job is World Cup, 306 00:14:53.240 --> 00:14:54.320 so focusing on that now. 307 00:14:54.440 --> 00:14:56.480 So yeah, you know, twenty two goals, you know that 308 00:14:56.600 --> 00:14:58.080 was very very nice in one game. 309 00:14:58.240 --> 00:14:58.879 Let you guys go. 310 00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:03.279 Yeah, fortunately didn't get one, but yeah, it wasn't my role. 311 00:15:03.320 --> 00:15:07.279 But yeah, but going into this two season, I mean 312 00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:10.159 looking back at last year, what kind of sets it 313 00:15:10.240 --> 00:15:13.159 apart in your mind from just what's happening on the 314 00:15:13.159 --> 00:15:15.200 field off the field, like what are you seeing and 315 00:15:15.240 --> 00:15:17.120 how excited is the team getting ready for. 316 00:15:17.080 --> 00:15:17.639 This new season? 317 00:15:17.799 --> 00:15:20.440 Yeah, I would say it's a completely different team from 318 00:15:20.480 --> 00:15:22.279 last year. You know, a lot of new faces and. 319 00:15:23.720 --> 00:15:24.080 I think the. 320 00:15:24.080 --> 00:15:27.679 Biggest difference was is the training environment. I think the 321 00:15:27.720 --> 00:15:31.480 intensity this year is something different. And yeah, I mean 322 00:15:31.519 --> 00:15:32.320 that's that's pretty much. 323 00:15:33.039 --> 00:15:35.200 How has it been getting to know these new players 324 00:15:35.200 --> 00:15:36.440 and kind of forming that chemistry? 325 00:15:36.679 --> 00:15:39.559 Yeah, obviously mostly when we played against last year, you know, 326 00:15:39.639 --> 00:15:42.519 on other teams and they're obviously doing well, like Ryan 327 00:15:42.679 --> 00:15:46.279 and Nick and boys. And so getting them, you know, 328 00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:49.279 in our team now and just building chemistry with them. 329 00:15:49.320 --> 00:15:51.639 They're they're all good people, so you know it was 330 00:15:51.639 --> 00:15:54.559 pretty easy. But yeah, we're just looking looking forward to 331 00:15:54.639 --> 00:15:55.039 the season. 332 00:15:55.440 --> 00:15:57.039 What are some aspects of your game? 333 00:15:57.200 --> 00:15:59.720 Have you seen the most improvement from last year to 334 00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:00.840 think wing into this season. 335 00:16:01.799 --> 00:16:04.879 I would say myself was a big thing was like 336 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:07.360 one B one defensively duels everything. 337 00:16:08.159 --> 00:16:09.600 I think that's improved. 338 00:16:09.639 --> 00:16:12.080 You know, I'm getting bigger and stronger as time goes on, 339 00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:15.679 you know, that happens. But I think I'm putting more 340 00:16:15.720 --> 00:16:18.600 care obviously into into my duels and trying to win 341 00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:20.519 every duel that I can. And yeah, that's something that 342 00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:21.720 would be different this season for me. 343 00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:25.120 How has the style of play evolved a little bit 344 00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:26.240 this year? In preseason? 345 00:16:26.559 --> 00:16:28.799 Yeah, I think last year we had a lot of 346 00:16:28.919 --> 00:16:31.399 technical players, you know that always wanted the ball to 347 00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:33.639 feet and I mean, including myself, that's the type of 348 00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:35.600 player I am. But I think this year we have 349 00:16:35.600 --> 00:16:38.559 a good mixture of you know, dynamic runs in behind 350 00:16:39.159 --> 00:16:41.799 all of that. So it's a good it's a good combination. 351 00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:45.240 And yeah, how much has it helped you to have 352 00:16:45.279 --> 00:16:48.200 a guy like Will Riley around, who has been here 353 00:16:48.279 --> 00:16:51.279 before now comes back after his time in college, has 354 00:16:51.320 --> 00:16:52.200 a ton of experience. 355 00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:55.679 Yeah, obviously, I mean it's just learning everything, even Will, 356 00:16:55.879 --> 00:16:58.799 you know, Hobby still, all the guys on at the 357 00:16:58.840 --> 00:17:02.000 first team. You know, it's a big it's a big help, 358 00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:04.279 you know, just learning little details. And you know Will 359 00:17:04.440 --> 00:17:08.279 was obviously experiencing usl before he he left for college, 360 00:17:08.279 --> 00:17:10.839 so you know, just asking him, I mean. 361 00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:13.240 Little things, that's yeah, He's he's been helpful. 362 00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:15.880 When you have a group like that that you feel 363 00:17:15.880 --> 00:17:19.960 comfortable like in your role asking you know, whether it's veterans, 364 00:17:19.960 --> 00:17:21.960 whether it's guys you're just a little bit older than you, 365 00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:24.519 how about how helpful is it to have those guys 366 00:17:24.559 --> 00:17:26.759 that you can bounce off of and learn from. 367 00:17:26.839 --> 00:17:28.759 I mean, that's I think that's the biggest one of 368 00:17:28.799 --> 00:17:31.759 the biggest parts of you know, our development as young 369 00:17:32.119 --> 00:17:35.160 young professionals coming into the team is having guys that 370 00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:38.640 are gonna help us, you know, because we're gonna make mistakes. 371 00:17:38.680 --> 00:17:40.680 That's that's gonna happen. We're all gonna make mistakes. But 372 00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:44.440 you know, having guys that won't treat you like you're young. 373 00:17:44.759 --> 00:17:46.319 You know, if you're good enough, you're old enough. 374 00:17:46.359 --> 00:17:50.160 So yeah, you know, you look ahead to Friday. It's 375 00:17:50.200 --> 00:17:52.519 the Red Bulls. You know exactly how they're gonna play. 376 00:17:52.599 --> 00:17:55.119 You know what to expect, what are the important things 377 00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:56.039 and getting a result. 378 00:17:56.599 --> 00:17:58.559 I think just matching their intensity. 379 00:17:58.599 --> 00:18:01.880 You know they're gonna come pressing first fifteen to twenty minutes, 380 00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:04.640 so you know, just kind of trying to break them down, 381 00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:07.720 tire them out, and uh yeah, score goals. 382 00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:12.680 Next up, Atlanta United to newcomer Ryan Carmichael, a player 383 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:15.000 he has a lot of success in MLS Next Pro 384 00:18:15.079 --> 00:18:18.920 and hoping to bring that to Atlanta. Here's our conversation 385 00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:22.319 with Ryan. Let's start with, you know what came into 386 00:18:22.359 --> 00:18:24.039 the decision to come to Atlanta this season. 387 00:18:25.799 --> 00:18:28.319 I think I was here a couple of years ago 388 00:18:28.359 --> 00:18:31.160 with the combine and I like the setup, and then 389 00:18:31.319 --> 00:18:35.400 obviously I saw what they're trying to do obviously. 390 00:18:35.119 --> 00:18:35.920 With the first team. 391 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:38.240 On the second team, we bro got in a load 392 00:18:38.279 --> 00:18:40.759 of player, older players, so if they were going to 393 00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:42.799 have really strong squad, and I wanted to be a 394 00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:43.559 part of it this year. 395 00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:46.480 Though, how's the group come together in preseason? 396 00:18:47.240 --> 00:18:48.799 Better than you'd probably think that. 397 00:18:49.079 --> 00:18:52.400 I think we're from the first game, everybody just seemed 398 00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:56.960 to click on the s. We've had a couple of 399 00:18:56.960 --> 00:19:00.680 great results over preseason and everybody's got the fitness and 400 00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:02.960 so we're all excited for Fridaily. 401 00:19:03.480 --> 00:19:05.480