ATLANTA, GEORGIA—Atlanta United young player Tyler Wolff is feeling confident as of late. This developed after Wolff, 18, was picked as part of the roster of the United States Under-20 Men’s Youth National Team that will visit Buenos Aires, Argentina for matches vs. Argentina on March 26 and Argentine Primera Division club River Plate on March 29.
Head coach Mikey Varas has called up 20 players for the training camp from March 21-30. The USA continues preparations for this summer’s Concacaf U-20 Championship in Honduras, which will serve as a qualification to the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2024 Summer Olympics. Earlier, Wolff said he is happy that coach Gonzalo Pineda gave him his usual position while still playing in the team’s academy and with Atlanta United 2.
He said Pineda tasked him to become an attacking midfield instead of his central midfield position last year. “That’s where I had my success to get my opportunity here,” Wolff said. As an attacking midfielder, Wolff is tasked with working in spaces and running behind defensive lines.
Now that he gets back to his old position, Wolff hopes he can get more playing time this year. “I think that’s what everybody wants, they want to be on the field,” he said. “But I think I need to prove to Gonzalo that I can do it day in and day out at training. And then when I get my minutes, making sure I’m creating chances so that I can be on the field with the first team,” he added.
Last season, Wolff made seven appearances, including two starts, with the first team. Pineda, for his part, is happy with the way Wolff performs in their training. “I was pleased, especially with Tyler in the movement behind the lines, his positioning in between the lines, playing as a 10,” Pineda said.
