New York City FC are on the road Wednesday night as they face Atlatna United at Mercedez-Benz Arena.
For this edition of 'The Away End' presented by Berkeley College & Rennert International, we spoke to The Athletic's Felipe Cárdenas.
Hi Felipe, thanks for speaking with us. How long have you been covering soccer?
I started writing about soccer in 2017 via my own blog. It was called The Near Post Run and it was nothing more than a passion project. I was working as a creative in the advertising industry, a role I had had since 2007. When I noticed the buzz around Atlanta United, I reached out to Rob Usry, who’s the founder of Dirty South Soccer, Atlanta United’s top blog. I wrote a few stories for them during Atlanta’s inaugural season. At the start of the 2018 season, The Athletic launched their soccer vertical and I was tapped as Atlanta United’s reporter. I left my advertising career officially in 2019 and have been a full time journalist since.
What’s been your favorite moment covering soccer?
There have been many. I was able to cover an MLS Cup in 2018 during my first season with The Athletic. That Atlanta United team was special. The coaches, the players, the personalities and the ambition to win was honestly intoxicating. It was clear from the start that Tata Martino had one objective in mind: win an MLS Cup final. Being able to witness the journey and then report from the winner’s dressing room was unforgettable.
But I truly love covering international football. The stakes are higher and the level is often top notch. I covered the 2019 Gold Final at Soldier Field between Mexico and the U.S. and I was blown away by the rivalry. Mexico won that game 1-0 and when they scored that late winner, wow, the stadium erupted. Right then and there I knew that these two generations of players would be battling each other for CONCACAF supremacy.
Atlanta have had quite the turnaround since our last meeting. Why do you think new coach Gonzalo Pineda has found such early success?
Pineda has brought balance to Atlanta United. The turmoil from Frank de Boer’s firing carried over into Gabriel Heinze’s dismissal and the club lost its direction. Pineda’s personality and MLS knowledge has meshed well with Atlanta United’s ongoing rebuild. This team is younger and less proven than the 2017 and 2018 teams. They’ve struggled with consistency and Pineda looks the part of a young manager who understands how to mold and keep an inexperienced group focused on their objective, which is to make the playoffs.
The team have had some struggles on the road of late, but this will be the first of three home games, is it fair to say this is the most important of those three given how close they are in the standings?
It feels like every game that Atlanta United has played since September has been big. The Eastern Conference is so tight that every match can slightly alter the standings. This one against NYCFC is massive because the Citizens can leapfrog Atlanta with a win. NYCFC need a win. They haven’t won since September 18. NYCFC typically play well in Atlanta so it’ll be interesting to see how the match plays out. A slower, tactical battle will favor the visitors.
If you were to identify Atlanta's dangerman, who would that be?
The easy answer is Ezequiel Barco who is, unfortunately, suspended but it’s his compatriot Marcelino Moreno who I believe has become Atlanta’s dangerman. Moreno is a difficult player to contain because he’s so direct and goal-dangerous. He moves around the midfield and flanks and seeks 1v1 matchups that favor his dribbling ability. Moreno has eight goals and five assists this season. If NYCFC focus too much on Barco or on Josef Martinez, or if they worry that Luiz Araújo could break out, Moreno could slip by unnoticed and make them pay.
And finally, for anyone that may be in Atlanta for the game, are there any particular attractions you'd suggest they check out?
I think the High Museum is a great stop for tourists. It’s the perfect size and the exhibits are top notch. A stop at Martin Luther King’s childhood home is a must. Now, I’ll probably get some flack for this but I’m not going to recommend New Yorkers go to a WaffleHouse! It has its charm. It's a staple of the South, but there are much better food options in Atlanta. I'm not originally from ATL so I'm allowed to say this! My game day recommendation: The Porter Beer Bar. It’s a great spot for a pregame meal.
