Atlanta United vs. DC United Clash: Valentino Urges Team to Concentrate on the Now to Break Winless Run
Atlanta United and DC United, both stuck in a rut within the MLS, eye a vital victory at Audi Field come Thursday.
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Under interim guidance, Rob Valentino emphasized remaining in the now prior to the face-off at Audi Field.
The Five Stripes have secured only a single win in their past dozen outings since April but aim to reverse this slump against their rivals from DC.
Sitting merely a point above the league’s cellar dwellers New England Revolution, Atlanta considers a triumph essential to fuel their season’s turnaround.
Despite recent stumbles, Valentino chooses to look ahead, affirming the squad’s commitment to amass points.
“Last week’s discussions are history,” Valentino stated. “Post-evaluation, we’ve embraced moving onward.
“Now, it’s about advancing and refining our play. We discussed staying engaged in the moment at Houston, and we’re steadfast on enhancing our performance to achieve the results we desire.”
Concurrently, DC United’s six-match win drought (D2 L4) persists after a recent stumble against Charlotte.
Even with their struggles, DC United, now 10th in the Eastern Conference, remains hopeful. They’ve gathered some points on home turf.
Their coach, Troy Lesesne, sees signs of improvement and remains optimistic about a resurgence.
“There’s noticeable progress,” mentioned Lesesne. “We recognized areas needing adjustments at mid-season and have made strides. We’re close to the outcomes we seek.
“Now, we must regroup and strive for a victory against Atlanta.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
DC United – Christian Benteke
Last time against Atlanta, Benteke bagged a hat-trick. In the MLS, he has been particularly lethal against Atlanta and New England.
Atlanta United – Xande Silva
Remarkably, Silva found the net in his last two MLS games. No Atlanta player, barring Giorgos Giakoumakis, has scored in three consecutive matches since early 2022.
AHEAD OF THE MATCH
Both squads, long in search of form, aim to climb the Eastern standings post their Audi Field clash.
Though DC triumphed over Atlanta 3-2 in May, Atlanta remains formidable in their recent away matches there.
OUTCOME PROBABILITIES
DC United – 35.4%
Draw – 26%
Atlanta United – 38.6%
