Rivalry Mentality and Capitalizing on Absences against Atlanta United | Ingredients of the Match

Caleb Adams

One more day before the highly anticipated rivalry matchup between Charlotte FC and Atlanta United. Let's take a look at the important factors for Sunday's match.

Here are the three ingredients of the match to keep an eye on against Atlanta:

Rivalry Mentality

The matchup between Charlotte FC and Atlanta United was always going to hold more weight after that moment when Charlotte FC owner, David Tepper, said “screw that other city” at the Club’s launch in December 2019. Yes, points are on the line, but pride is perhaps the biggest thing at stake.

Further adding fuel to the fire, the matchup follows the record-breaking MLS attendance of 74,479 in CLTFC’s home opener, breaking the record previously held by Atlanta United.

Charlotte FC head coach, Miguel Ramírez, has said from the start that he “wants the fans to feel proud” about their team. This is an opportunity to carry the energy from the historic inaugural home match into the beginning of this regional rivalry.

Express Yourself Within the System

In a complex game model like the one Ramírez utilizes for Charlotte FC, it can be easy to get too caught up in the system. It involves constant awareness of situations and open spaces, as well as specific movements on and off the ball.

The system is designed to create numerical advantages to put players in advantageous numbers-up scenarios. It’s a system that is extremely well-planned, but not at the expense of moments of individual creativity and inspiration.

However, when the model was first introduced to the players, it was natural that some of their individual creativity would be affected as they focused on learning the system. Now that the team has had seven games (including the preseason) under the new system, the players can now loosen up and play more to their individual strengths.

“In the first week it was stressful for the players to do certain movements, patterns, or decisions but now it’s snaps fingers like that... they’ve learned and now have the feeling to do it,” said Ramirez.

This should help improve chance creations which has been difficult to come by in these early stages. The more the game model becomes second nature with every passing game, the more the players will be able to express themselves freely on the pitch.

Capitalize on Absences

Atlanta United’s injury woes from the 2021 season have continued into the 2022 season. Coming into the season, they were already without midfielder Emerson Hyndman, right back Brooks Lennon, Jake Mulraney, and now Designated Player Luiz Araújo, who went down in Atlanta’s season opener against Sporting Kansas City.

Injuries haven’t been the only reason for player absences; delays in VISA processes have also added to the unavailability list. U-22 Initiative player, Santiago Sosa, had been in his home country of Argentina awaiting his VISA along with new DP Thiago Almada, whose transfer fee broke the all-time amount paid by an MLS club.

Both Argentinians are reportedly now in Atlanta, but with limited time spent training with the team, their minutes against Charlotte FC could be limited. Still, the biggest absence of all for Atlanta United is in U.S. International, Miles Robinson.

Robinson, who plays center back, is suspended due to the two yellows cards leading to a red in the game against the Colorado Rapids last week. This was uncharacteristic of him as an MLS Defender of the Year contender.

This is the best time for Charlotte FC to be playing against their Southern rivals away from home. However, Atlanta United are probably thinking the exact same thing about Charlotte, with the roster build still very much in progress.

Capitalizing on Atlanta’s absences and getting a result in a notoriously difficult place to play would be massive in building the momentum for CLTFC’s inaugural season.