As they prepare for their first game of the 2024 season, Atlanta United are back on the training field. After playing the season-opening game against the Columbus Crew on February 24, the team took an early week off.
The first home game of the season between the 5-Stripes and the New England Revolution is scheduled for Saturday, March 9, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Speaking to the local media on Tuesday, new signing Bartosz Slisz and homegrown Caleb Wiley talked about the game versus Columbus, how Atlanta United is developing as the season gets underway, and the thrill of playing in a Mercedes-Benz.
The club made good use of the time between the first and second games, focusing on areas for improvement and building on the positive aspects of the first encounter.
The 19-year-old defender, Caleb Wiley, talked about how the week off helped the team grow and the players’ ability to communicate with one another. Even though Columbus won in the end, the team thought there were a lot of good things from the game.
“Even though we lost, it was still a step in the right direction,” he said. “It was the first game, and we didn’t get the outcome that we wanted. But there were parts of the game that were promising. We looked back at the film; we can look at the things we need to learn. We’ll come to the field and work on those things.”
The homegrown athlete, originally from Atlanta, is well aware of the unique experience that Mercedes-Benz Stadium games can provide.
We have to bring the energy since it’s the first game at the Benz. All I can think of when I think of the first game is my debut. I find this to be a unique moment. When he netted his first goal of the season in February 2022, guiding Atlanta United to victory, it made his debut even more memorable.
