Atlanta United head coach Frank de Boer has questioned the value of 9 a.m. in Central Florida’s humidity and heat in the MLS Comeback Tournament.
The Five Stripes fell 1-0 to FC Cincinnati on Thursday morning after dropping 10 players in the 26th minute, after Jake Mulraney was sent off for his second reserve offensive. Frankie Amaya scored the winner for Cincinnati in the 76th minute.
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– The established group schedule for MLS is the Tournament Back
De Boer accepted that the ejection threw his game plans “overboard” and felt Atlanta was in control, up to Amaya’s long-range goal, but was not happy that he played so early in the morning.
“I also wanted to say that if you watch this game at 9 o’clock, I think for everyone it’s not worth playing under these kinds of conditions,” De Boer said in the post-game video news conference. “You saw that the tempo was very, very slow. Even though it was 11 against 10, it was very slow.”
“There is no benefit for the fans who watch it and neither for the players because the circumstances were really difficult today. We really have to think about whether it is good when we play in these moments in this heat.”
De Boer said having breakfast as the pregame meal at 6am is something that “has never happened in my life” and suggested that the players felt more comfortable playing later.
“During the night, everyone felt quite comfortable, still difficult, [but] it’s different, “he said.” We really have to think about these kinds of games, especially if we want to entertain people, that’s what sport is about, of course, winning and watching good games. I imagine that for the fans it is not a game that they are going to see. “
Atlanta United lost their first MLS is Back game against the New York Red Bulls 1-0 and is now zero points from their first two Group E games. They will need a win over the Columbus Crew on Tuesday for a shot at the eighth. end.
The former Ajax coach said he was not concerned about the team’s failure to score so far in the tournament, noting that the team created enough opportunities against the Red Bulls and endorsed the character of its players.
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