Atlanta United head into Wednesday night’s meeting with Charlotte FC knowing their defensive options have improved, even if the availability report still leaves several gaps. Júnior Alonso is available for the 8 p.m. ET kickoff, while Pedro Amador, Jay Fortune, Matt Edwards, Sergio Santos and Paulo Díaz are unavailable.
The match comes after Atlanta’s loss at Nashville, but the broader context is just as important. These are long-time rivals, and the clubs already met on April 28 in the U.S. Open Cup, when Atlanta won 2-0 at Mecklenburg Sportsplex in Matthews, North Carolina. Tristan Muyumba’s point was straightforward: this is not going to be the same game.
Martino says the attitude will not change
Speaking on Tuesday, Tata Martino made clear that Atlanta’s recent results will not alter the team’s approach. “The team’s attitude is not going to change,” he said. “Even though we've been losing games lately, I think what won't change is the attitude. For the rest of the season, we want to have that mentality and be competing all the way through the season.”
That matters because Atlanta are not just trying to manage one match, but to show a consistent standard through the rest of the season. Martino’s message was less about panic and more about maintaining competitive habits, even during a difficult run.
Why the new center backs matter
Martino also addressed the arrival of the new center backs and why he believes they fit the way Atlanta want to play. “When we as coaches suggest signings, we're looking at where they've been playing before and the style that they've been playing as well,” he said.
He pointed to the backgrounds of both defenders. “In the case of these two center backs, Paulo was playing at River in a similar style, and Júnior at Atlético Mineiro under two different coaches, [Gabriel] Milito and [Eduardo] Domínguez, was playing in a similar style.”
For Atlanta, that helps explain why Alonso could be ready to step in quickly. Short turnaround matches often test defensive understanding more than anything else, and the club now has at least one additional option available for a fixture where control at the back will matter.
Muyumba expects a different challenge
Muyumba, who also spoke on Tuesday, said the previous win over Charlotte should not be taken as a guide for Wednesday. “It's going to be a different game,” he said, adding that the result in the cup was still useful for confidence. “It was good winning over there, and to get the result for the mind and for the confidence, but it's going to be different game.”
He also offered an early view of Alonso’s presence in the squad. Muyumba said: “I think he will bring a lot of leadership, a lot of calmness into the defense,” and added, “We're still learning about him, but he's a good guy.”
There was even a small language note from the midfielder. Muyumba said Alonso “speak a little bit of French because he played a couple years in France,” and ended on a positive note: “We are very glad and happy having him with us.”
With Alonso available and several others out, Atlanta’s lineup will still require adjustment. But the bigger takeaway is Martino’s insistence that the attitude remains intact. For a rivalry match in Charlotte, that is the baseline Atlanta will be expected to meet.
