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Atlanta's new striker believes the team must become more clinical after watching Sporting KC remain within reach Sunday.
Breel Embolo Wants Atlanta United to 'Kill the Hope'
Breel Embolo watched from inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium as Atlanta United scored twice during the opening 24 minutes against Sporting Kansas City. Tomás Jacob finished Miguel Almirón’s cross for the first goal, and Fafà Picault redirected Almirón’s corner for the second. Atlanta had opportunities to score again. Instead, Sporting KC pulled one back in the second half and remained within one goal until the final whistle. What had looked like a comfortable victory became another match Atlanta had to scratch and claw their way through.
Two days later, Embolo offered his first assessment of his new team. I think we just need to be killer [sometimes] and if you score if you're in front 3-0 it's more easy than 2-0. Because in 2-0 you have still this little hope and we know in football the game is just finished when the referee [blows the] whistle. I think you need to kill the hope really quick so you get more control out of the game. If you don't do that you need to suffer till the end. Breel Embolo, Atlanta United Striker - Introductory Press Conference 
Embolo was careful not to criticize his new teammates after watching only one match from the stands. He acknowledged that the game appeared slower from above and that analyzing it was easier when he was not one of the players on the field. But he also recognized how much more Atlanta could have taken from its first-half performance. We could easily, on my side, score two, three more goals. And after, you you see the other part of the MLS, that it can turn really quick if you don't finish the action. Breel Embolo, Atlanta United Striker - Introductory Press Conference
Atlanta has created more opportunities since returning from the World Cup break, and three consecutive victories have moved it closer to the playoff spots. But it has not consistently converted those opportunities into enough goals to take control of matches. Embolo was signed to help change that.
Atlanta paid a reported €17 million, with another €1 million available through bonuses, to acquire the 29-year-old from Stade Rennais. He replaces Emmanuel Latte Lath as the Designated Player at the center of Atlanta’s attack, but the club is not expecting him to operate as an isolated goalscorer.
Chris Henderson described a forward capable of occupying both center backs, receiving the ball with his back to goal and running behind a defense. Embolo’s strength, speed and movement should give Atlanta a focal point while creating space for Almirón, Alexey Miranchuk and the other players moving around him. He can occupy both defenders. Not only play with his back to goal, but he can stretch the teams as well and and use his his speed and his power and his technique. So, I think he checks the boxes we want. He's a a very good finisher when he gets chances inside the box. Chris Henderson, Atlanta United Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director - Atlanta United 
Embolo described his role in broader terms. He wants to score, but he does not measure a striker’s performance solely through his own goal total. I'm not the typical striker that just want to score every game. I always say the performance on the pitch is important, to understand with who you are playing and to [make] the space for them. Breel Embolo, Atlanta United Striker Introductory Press Conference
Josef Martínez became the defining figure of the club’s most successful teams through his goals, and each center forward who followed has been measured against what Martínez produced. Embolo knows that history and faced Martínez while both played in Switzerland. But he did not present himself as the next player expected to carry Atlanta’s attack alone. I think if you get performance, you get more chance to create chances, and to score goals so everyone can score goals, not just me. I think [it] will be stupid to just hope that I'm scoring alone. I'm trying to help my team also against the ball. It's important. It's important part in football now. Because you don't have always the ball. So trying to help them with runs, and to getting the ball and, yeah to making the people around me also better. Breel Embolo, Atlanta United Striker - Introductory Press Conference
Embolo wants to press without the ball, draw defenders away from teammates and help create an attack in which several players believe they can score. That approach should suit an Atlanta team whose improvement has coincided with greater production around the center forward position. Almirón has become more influential. Miranchuk has been more involved in Atlanta’s attacking combinations. And Tristan Muyumba has scored in three consecutive matches after moving closer to the penalty area.
The challenge is turning that idea into goals quickly enough to matter this season. Atlanta has 13 regular-season matches remaining, and Embolo cannot play until he receives his P-1 visa and International Transfer Certificate.
Embolo was at Atlanta’s training Tuesday, although he cannot participate until his work authorization is completed. He also acknowledged that he must regain some fitness after taking three weeks off following the World Cup and working individually before completing his transfer.
Atlanta’s three consecutive victories have started the climb before Embolo has stepped onto the field. His arrival is intended to make its strongest periods more productive and its advantages more difficult to surrender.
Sporting KC remained alive Sunday because Atlanta failed to kill the game off. Embolo watched that opportunity pass from the stands. The next step is turning more of its opportunities into goals and removing an opponent’s hope before Atlanta is left suffering through the final whistle.