Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be all about Brad Guzan: Atlanta United’s captain and club legend will get the sendoff he deserves as he calls time on a career that’s spanned two decades.
An unwanted subplot, though, will be Atlanta looking to avoid a Wooden Spoon for the first time in club history. A loss to D.C. United will mean just that. That’s a far cry from the days of 2018 and 2019, but here we are.
Ahead of Saturday’s match, Donald Wine (X, BlueSky) from The District Press (and a member of the American Outlaws board of directors — you’ve probably seen him on TV on the capo stand at USMNT and USWNT matches) was kind enough to give us a peek at D.C. United, who are looking for their own return to the MLS elite.
It’s been a busy last few months for D.C. United as René Weiler took the reins as head coach and Erkut Sogut joined as director of soccer operations. What’s the vision that both individuals have for the club, and how has that played into what Weiler’s technical preferences have been since arriving?
René Weiler has not tipped his hand as to the type of players he’s going to be seeking in the offseason. His main focus has been evaluating the players that are currently on the roster to see where there can be some movement. He and Sogut will have a busy offseason as they try to bring in the max number of Designated Players (and maybe not have one playing for a team within the conference this time! LOL) and revamp the roster. The thought is that they will look to Europe for a lot of these acquisitions, but it’s unclear what the vision will be from Sogut’s position as his hire was unexpected and his first move was to let go of the entire scouting department. It’s a complete reset from top to bottom at D.C. United.
Tying into that, Christian Benteke is out of contract at the end of the season but has an option for next year. I’d imagine D.C. would like to pick it up, but have there been any indications that they wouldn’t or that he may not want to return?
There are big questions about whether the club will pick up Benteke’s option for next season. After his Golden Boot year in 2024, he’s had a shaky 2025 where he’s missed considerable time due to injuries. However, he’s still the leading goalscorer on the team with 9 goals despite his injury absences. It was more likely that Benteke’s option would be picked up if Troy Lesesne was still in charge. However, the new direction the club is moving in with the hiring of Weiler and Sogut leaves that to be a question. In the end, that will be the biggest signal of a complete makeover or them hoping to build some around Benteke.
This is now six seasons in a row that D.C. has missed the playoffs. What’s the primary area(s) where it needs to improve to get back to its glory days?
Honestly, it all needs a makeover. But the biggest place is in the midfield, where turnovers have routinely cost the team goals. Getting a DP that can connect the defense to the attack is crucial in the offseason. But overall, they have to rebuild the trust with the fanbase because that has been totally lost and, for some, it’s irreparable. They have to start step by step, but René Weiler recognizes that results are what will help bring fans back into the fold.