Atlanta United won’t worry about other results on Decision Day

Even if two other results go its way, Atlanta United won’t qualify for the MLS playoffs if it doesn’t defeat Orlando on Saturday.

Because of that circumstance, Five Stripes midfielder Jay Fortune and centerback Stian Gregersen said they aren’t going to worry if D.C. United is losing to Charlotte and/or Montreal is losing to NYCFC, and Philadelphia isn’t beating Cincinnati, which are the other results, along with a win, that Atlanta United needs to make the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

Atlanta United trails D.C. United and Montreal by three points, but would have the second tiebreaker (goal difference) if they were to finish tied in points. The first tiebreaker is number of wins. Atlanta United is tied in points (37) with Philadelphia. If both Atlanta United and Philadelphia win Saturday, the teams would be tied for the first tiebreaker, but the Union would have the second tiebreaker.

“We kind of put ourselves in the situation, so I think for us, we have to try to do the best we can with what we have in front of us,” Fortune said. “I think it would be foolish not to say that there is a little bit of pressure on the game. I think you have to respect the moment and respect what’s in front of us, but at the same time trying to play with that bit of freedom that it could be for nothing.”

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Fortune and Gregersen said they do not want to know what is happening in the other games, which will kick off at the same time as Atlanta United’s.

“Every match is pressure, of course, but this one will be a little bit special,” Gregersen. “But we need to focus on ourselves because we know that we have to win. And then after, we will see what happened with the others.”

Working. Atlanta United spent the past week working on transition moments, specifically when to attack when it wins the ball, and finishing.

Those were some of the things it did well in defeating the New York Red Bulls on Oct. 5 to keep alive its chances of making the postseason.

“We have a very intense training (on Tuesday),” Gregersen said. “We got a good break for the weekend to load the batteries. Today, we started again and it was very hard and good intensity.”

Injury updates. Winger Xande Silva continued rehabilitating from his foot injury by working out by himself Tuesday. Silva could be seen walking onto the training pitch and then jogging with a member of the medical staff while the rest of the team trained. Silva hasn’t played since sustaining the injury in the first half the match against Nashville on Sept. 14. He has two goals and three assists in 23 appearances.

Midfielder Tristan Muyumba, who has a hip injury, didn’t train with the team Tuesday. Nor could he been seen working out by himself. Muyumba has 29 appearances, including 25 starts, this season.

Centerback Noah Cobb and winger Luke Brennan didn’t train with the team because they are with the U.S. Under-20 national team competing in friendlies against Chile in Santiago. They are expected to return before Friday.

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Atlanta United’s 2024 schedule

Feb. 24 Columbus 1, Atlanta United 0

March 9 Atlanta United 4, New England 1

March 17 Atlanta United 2, Orlando 0

March 23 Toronto 2, Atlanta United 0

March 31 Atlanta United 3, Chicago 0

April 6 Atlanta United 1, NYCFC 1

April 14 Atlanta United 2, Philadelphia 2

April 20 Cincinnati 2, Atlanta United 1

April 27 Atlanta United 1, Chicago 1

May 4 Minnesota 2, Atlanta United 1

May 7 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte Independence 0 in U.S. Open Cup