The 2021-22 MLS season has been a trying one thus far for Atlanta United and its supporters.
Atlanta, which took the league by storm in its first two seasons, smashing attendances records and earning a championship, has a record of 2-8-6 this year. Head coach Gabriel Heinze, hired in December, was let go earlier this month amidst an eight-game winless streak. The Argentine coach did not help his cause much by freezing out Atlanta's and, possibly, MLS's best player.
Josef Martinez has scored 93 goals in 117 appearances for Atlanta, claiming league MVP honors in the triumphant 2018 season in which he scored 35 times. Yet, astonishingly, the Venezuelan found himself out of the squad for six consecutive games from June to July. Neither coach nor player has commented on what caused the star's exile, though Heinze also made headlines recently given reports that the league players union filed a grievance over his harsh training procedures.
Martinez, for his part, has said since the firing of Heinze, "Whatever’s been said in the news is already out there and I have nothing to add on that. ... What’s in the past is in the past. I think the most important thing for us now is to lift our heads up ... and return to winning games."
In his second start under interim coach Rob Valentino on Friday, Martinez showed just how dangerous he can be. He scored less than a minute into the game against Orlando, ripping a ferocious first-time effort off the post in Atlanta's eventual 3-2 defeat.
JOSEF. STUNNER.
Always something special against Orlando. pic.twitter.com/o5YgjbCW0w— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 31, 2021
Atlanta has the second-lowest goal tally in the league this season with just 16 through as many games. The lack of goals is far from Atlanta's only problem, but with a fit Martinez back in the side at long last, there is still time for Atlanta to turn around this difficult season.
