{"id":33550,"date":"2021-05-20T10:00:14","date_gmt":"2021-05-20T14:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/?p=33550"},"modified":"2021-05-20T02:53:59","modified_gmt":"2021-05-20T06:53:59","slug":"atlanta-united-attack-emerson-hyndman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/2021\/05\/20\/atlanta-united-attack-emerson-hyndman\/","title":{"rendered":"Atlanta United attack working hard to find ‘killer instinct’, says Emerson Hyndman"},"content":{"rendered":"

EDITORAL<\/strong> – Atlanta United are working hard to find their ‘killer instinct’, according to midfielder Emerson Hyndman.<\/p>\n

The Five Stripes have shown signs of promise during the early stages of Gabriel Heinze’s reign so far. For example, Atlanta top the whole of MLS when it comes to passing accuracy (87.01%)<\/a>, while they’ve only lost one of their five league matches so far.<\/p>\n

Emerson Hyndman: Atlanta United attack working hard<\/strong><\/h2>\n

But Heinze’s side have struggled to convert stylish possession into chances in the final third, scoring just six goals and hitting the sixth-lowest number of shots on target (20) throughout the league.<\/p>\n

Given the way Atlanta struggled in 2020 — a year which saw them sack manager Frank de Boer, lose Josef Martinez to injury and finish 12th in the Eastern Conference — it’s hardly surprising that they’ve suffered a tough transition to Heinze’s methods.<\/p>\n

But Hyndman insists the players and the coaching staff are working tirelessly to give Atlanta more bite in the final third and they’re close to finding the right balance.<\/p>\n

“There are times where you\u2019ve got to be patient, but there is also that killer instinct that we\u2019re still trying to find a little bit as a team,” Hyndman told reporters on Wednesday. <\/span>“We get around the box enough. Sometimes, we\u2019re a little too patient, other times we\u2019re too fast, so you\u2019ve just got to find the balance and it\u2019ll work itself out.<\/span><\/p>\n

“We\u2019ve done a lot of work on the training field of when the right time is, we\u2019re working on our runs and things like that. That\u2019ll all come. We\u2019re still in the beginning stages of what we\u2019re trying to do. It\u2019s a very complex way of playing, so we\u2019re trying to get everything up to speed quickly. We\u2019ve done numerous things pretty well, but that\u2019s the last stage for us, the final third. Getting that to where we all feel comfortable so we get more chances on goal.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Although sections of the Atlanta fanbase have shown concern at their side’s lack of cutting edge, Hyndman is more relaxed. The United States international is pleased with the team’s adjustment so far and says Heinze has always insisted that adjusting to his style of play wouldn’t happen overnight.<\/p>\n

“Gabriel has always preached to us that it\u2019s going to take time to become fully aware of exactly everything we\u2019re doing all at the same time,” said Hyndman. “Obviously, some people learn differently from others and you\u2019ve got to take that into account.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I think at this stage of the season, to take on everything we\u2019ve taken on and to put in some of the performances, considering the complexity of some of the things we\u2019re being asked to do, we\u2019ve done really well and it can only get better. <\/span>[Gabriel] has been pleased with what we\u2019ve done so far but at the same time, we\u2019re working every single day to get better. And he sees the challenges that lie ahead and where we can get better. Especially in the final third, we\u2019re working together to make it click. <\/span><\/p>\n

“I think it\u2019s hard to put a specific timeline to anything, but if we go game to game and week by week to try and improve, that\u2019ll only make us better and the way we\u2019re working, I think we will.”<\/span><\/p>\n

After scoring a 94th-minute goal to seal a dramatic 1-0 win over CF Montreal<\/a> in front of over 40,000 fans at the weekend<\/a>, Atlanta travel to Seattle on Sunday to face a Sounders<\/a> side unbeaten after six games.<\/p>\n

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Relive our magical Saturday \u2728 pic.twitter.com\/vaYxiAcyTh<\/a><\/p>\n

— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) May 18, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n