Atlanta United faces record-worst home season

Atlanta United will play its final home match of the season at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday against the Toronto FC. The team enters the contest with a 4-10-2 home record, a mark that is the worst in the league by a wide margin. If the Red lose, they will set a new franchise record for the lowest standing at home.

The 2020 season previously held the low bar for home play at the venue, where the club went 4-7-2. A defeat on Sunday would push that number down to 4-11-2, cementing the worst home record in the club's history. The team has not won a home match since September 20, when it beat Chicago Fire 3-2. That result was the last time the squad claimed a victory on its own turf.

Manager Gerardo Martino called the season the worst of his nearly three decades in professional coaching. He noted that he has never experienced a campaign quite like this one. Martino stated that the numbers speak for themselves and that he would not compare this season to any other in his career.

The Red have suffered from inconsistency throughout the year. They have allowed goals in back-to-back matches in several stretches of the schedule. The team has lost leads and dropped points in close contests, often failing to convert chances into goals. These patterns have contributed to the current standing of 8-18-6 on the season.

Atlanta United faces a tough schedule down the stretch. The team will play New York City FC on Sunday, November 15. It then travels to New York to face the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday, November 18. These two games will complete the season for the club.

Martino acknowledged the difficulty of the remaining matches. He said the team must win to keep some form of hope alive for the future. The manager emphasized that the group needs to show the grit and strength they have displayed at times this season. He wants the players to understand that every point matters in these final games.

The coach stressed that the team must avoid emotional reactions to recent results. He said the players need to stay focused and not let past mistakes define their next performance. Martino believes the squad has the talent to compete, but they must execute at a higher level to secure victories.

Atlanta United will look to reverse the trend before the season ends. The team aims to finish on a positive note despite the overall struggles. The outcome of the Toronto match will determine whether the club sets a new negative record at its home stadium.

Martino expressed confidence in the players' ability to respond. He noted that the group has shown resilience in previous difficult situations. The manager wants the team to leave the stadium with a win to close out the home slate on a high note.