MLS: Atlanta United and FC Dallas return to action under new coaches

Atlanta United and FC Dallas are both at home Saturday for their first matches under interim coaches.

Rob Valentino begins his second tenure as interim coach in Atlanta when the Five Stripes host Houston. Five straight home losses have dropped them to 13th place in the Eastern Conference, although they are still just three points off the playoff line.

Valentino switched to 4-2-2 in 2021 when he replaced before the arrival of Gonzalo Pineda and will have a chance to turn things around.

“When you’re going through a tough time like this, it’s time to go back to the drawing board and simplify things,” he said. “Try to focus on the specific messages that this coaching staff is trying to get across and do it to the best of your ability. I think it will lead to three points on Saturday.

Saturday will also be Frenchman Peter Luccin’s first match at the helm of FC Dallas, which hosts St. Louis City.

Luccin finished his playing career at FC Dallas and has been a part of their organization ever since, working in their academy program and then as a first team assistant coach.

FC Dallas is 13th in the Western Conference but further from the playoffs than Atlanta, sitting

“I think it’s very important to understand that not everything in the past was bad. I think we are building a foundation,” he said. “I can see the passion in their eyes. They also see passion in my eyes. Passion for this game is therefore also a key factor. This is what I saw. This is what they see of me.

• Anecdote: LAFC has a chance to set an MLS record when they play Orlando City. He has won five straight MLS games without allowing a goal, tying the record set by Atlanta United in 2019.

• SA reading: The rise of Real Salt Lake: Powered by Chicho Arango and a wise technical staff (By Steve Davis)

📺 SATURDAY games:

APPLE TV/MLS SEASON PASS
Atlanta vs. Houston 7:30 p.m.
Charlotte vs. DC 7:30 p.m.
Montreal vs Real Salt Lake 7:30 p.m.
New England vs. Vancouver 7:30 p.m.
NYRB vs. Nashville 7:30 p.m.
Orlando vs. LAFC 7:30 p.m.
Philadelphia vs. Miami 7:30 p.m.
Toronto vs. Chicago 7:30 p.m.
Dallas vs. St. Louis 8:30 p.m.
Colorado vs. Austin 9:30 p.m.
LA Galaxy vs. Kansas City 10:30 p.m.
San Jose vs. Cincinnati 10:30 p.m.
Seattle vs. Minnesota 10:30 p.m.
All times ET.