Main League Soccer facet Atlanta United introduced Rob Valentino as interim supervisor after parting methods with Gabriel Heinze on Monday.
After solely 13 matches, the Argentine supervisor left Atlanta behind with two league wins and a extremely public dispute with star striker Josef Martinez.
The membership promoted former assistant coach Rob Valentino to take over because the seek for a brand new coach begins. Regardless of the sudden shift into the highlight, Valentino isn’t any stranger to excessive strain conditions. He now has at some point earlier than discovering himself on the sidelines as Atlanta United interim head coach because the membership confronts FC Cincinnati on Wednesday at TQL Stadium.
“Job primary is to get everybody on the identical web page, everybody to know their roles and duty,” Valentino instructed media on Monday. “We have now a recreation Wednesday. That’s the most effective factor – there’s video games. We will get proper into it and hopefully get optimistic outcomes.”
Valentino’s managerial profession started with Orlando Metropolis B after taking part in as a defender in MLS, the USL and NASL. In 2019, he was referred to as as much as serve underneath Frank de Boer at Atlanta. After the membership’s latest announcement, ex-players and MLS voices got here out in help of Valentino and his new place.
“I instructed the boys this morning I hope I deliver the human ingredient,” Valentino stated. “By way of techniques, I’ll do my greatest. We’ll all do our greatest to show the outcomes round. Take extra dangers, create extra possibilities, rating extra targets and win video games. However finally, we’re coping with people. We’re coping with folks.”
The human element is especially highlighted after stories surged of Heinze’s harsh therapy in direction of his gamers. A number of sources together with Yahoo Sports activities and Fox Sports activities reported that Heinze dedicated a plethora of Collective Bargaining Settlement violations along with limiting a participant’s water consumption throughout coaching.
“We’re people. We need to work together with folks,” Valentino stated. “I don’t need them to assume I simply care about them as athletes, there’s extra to them. They’re nice athletes, however they’re good guys.
When a reporter requested Valentino about his tackle the promotion, the brand new interim coach stifled earlier than expressing any emotion. He cited the membership’s previous earlier than commenting on the current and future.
“I had combined feelings, actually,” Valentino stated. “It’s by no means straightforward to see anyone lose their job. I’ve been on this six or seven years, it’s by no means straightforward whenever you see that. Personally, I am excited and grateful for the chance. There’s plenty of work to do, however I care concerning the boys. I care concerning the membership. I need to see them succeed, I need to see them glad, I need to see them with smiles on their face.”