‘I’m excited about what’s to come’: Atlanta United, overall record aside, is in good spirits

Days after leaving Nashville with another loss on their record, Atlanta United and manager Gerardo “Tata” Martino were back at the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Center on Tuesday morning. They are working on a game plan for their upcoming game in Charlotte the next day. The Five Stripes haven’t necessarily played poorly at Bank of America Stadium since 2022; they are 2-2 overall, but they haven’t played well this season on the road, no matter where they have been. That said, the overall mindset and approach are still enthusiastic. At least it is to one of the team’s key players and Martino.

“I’m excited about what’s to come,” said Martino when he was asked if the mounting losses had had an effect on his outlook for the season. “There are many positives that we have seen over 15 games.”

The positives have not necessarily been victories. Atlanta United is currently 3-2-10 overall and near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. The overall mood is that the game in Nashville was a golden opportunity to earn a point, and it slipped through the road team’s hands. Martino said his team was the better and more dominant side during the game, but they allowed that one goal to make a difference. He believes the additions of center-backs Paulo Diaz and Junior Alonso will strengthen the team’s defensive spine going forward. Neither player will travel with the team to Charlotte, so their potential impact will have to be felt at a later date.

Ajani Fortune and Predor Amador, also keys to any success this team has had this season, will also be back in Atlanta for the Charlotte game. Amador is out with Achilles soreness, and Fortune, who left the game in Nashville with a leg injury but walked off the pitch under his own power, will be out for the next two matches in Charlotte and in Foxboro, Massachusetts, against the New England Revolution.

The manager and former MLS Cup winner, Martino, believes good things are on the horizon despite what it may look like at the moment. 

“The attitude is not going to change. For the rest of the season, we want to have that attitude,” Martino said. 

Muyumba, usually a happy-go-lucky kind of guy under the worst situations (See: 2026 season), is in agreement with his manager. Despite stating the obvious, he seems like he has a feeling things can still turn around.

“We have to start to get results, but I agree with the coach,” he said. “I am excited about what’s coming up and how we are ultimately going to look in a couple of weeks.”

Muyumba said the Nashville game was proof of what this team can look like. He used the word “progress” to describe the game. Young players like Cooper Sanchez, Matt Edwards, and Will Reilly were playing at a high level, while veterans like Muyumba, Fafa Picault, and Ronald Hernandez played their roles as starters and substitutes, respectively.

If the 2026 Boston Red Sox, 51-48 overall and 10-0 in their last 10 games, are teaching us anything, it’s that a hot streak can change the trajectory of a season. You never know what these next 15 games can prove.

“I think we want to improve and start to win games, get more confidence, and bring more smiles into that locker room,” Muyumba said.

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