Atlanta United head coach Gonzalo Pineda praised Inter Miami boss Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino ahead of their Leagues Cup meeting, hoping to one day be able to somewhat replicate what he’s done as a coach.
Of course, Lionel Messi is stealing the headlines at the moment, and Pineda was asked just how exactly does he plan to limit (as there is really no stopping Messi) a player of that quality.
“The best way to limit a very good player to put attacking actions, to create chances on goal, is don’t give them the ball,” said Pineda. “That’s normally how we do, or we try to do, against good players. And of course we know he can be very dangerous, but also is the connection, right?
“Busquets can be very good at finding him in pockets. And I think if we can deal with that, having more of the ball than them, I think we’re going to be ok.”
Atlanta United are at the top of MLS in terms of possession per game, but that game plan hasn’t worked out quite exactly to plan as they’ve scored plenty of goals, but also conceded nearly just as many. Counter-attacking sides have found lots of joy against the Five Stripes as they get caught out when without the ball on rare occasions.
“It’s just a matter of that personality that it takes to be on that type of stage, that type of stadium with that type of energy, and having more of the ball, having to be always in control of the game, having good possession sequences together when we are in possession, being compact.”
As Pineda made over 40 appearances at the international level for Mexico, he had plenty to say about Martino’s time with El Tri.
“Regardless of what Mexican media thinks, I think he did a great job in Mexico. At the end he had so many injuries with Mexico that he couldn’t apply what he was working on for so many years,” the former Seattle Sounders player said.
“Regardless of that, I always express my admiration. I think we think the game in probably the same ways. We like to be protagonists of the game, we like to have control, we like to have possession. We believe that we have to try to play beautiful football for fans to be engaged.”
Pineda added: “So I think we have some similarities in there. But of course he has way more experience and way more success than me. I’m at the beginning of my career, and I hope at some point I can have half of the success that Tata has had.”
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