MARIETTA, Ga. – On Friday morning Atlanta United worked through their final preparations ahead of Sunday’s home clash with the red-hot Portland Timbers (4:30 pm ET | FOX — Full TV & streaming info), a high-profile inter-conference matchup.
The game pits Atlanta midfielder Darlington Nagbe against his longtime club for the first time since being traded from Portland last offseason. While Nagbe admits he still maintains friendly relationships with his former Timbers teammates, he's focused on helping the Five Stripes bag the three points to maintain their lead atop the MLS standings.
"I think [Portland] gets in today so I might catch up with them and have a little fun," Nagbe said Friday before Atlanta's training session. "You always want to win no matter who you're playing against. So there's no conflicting emotions, but I'm looking forward to seeing the guys."
Despite the Timbers missing a couple of players who are participating in the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Nagbe expects a tough, physical game on Sunday — undoubtedly in part to the fact that he'll be competing in central midfield against a player he knows very well in Diego Chara.
Darlington Nagbe during his time with the Timbers | USA Today Sports Images
"In my opinion, he's one of the best center mids in the game and in our league so it'll be a great matchup," said Nagbe. "He's very feisty, a great ball winner — one of the best ball winners in the league. He might foul me a few times, but it's all love. He's my guy so we'll just get back up and keep playing."
Nagbe said he won't celebrate if he scores against his former club, despite the fact that it would mark his first goal for Atlanta (he had a goal waved off after review by Video Review against New York City FC on April 15).
So, is this just another game for Darlington? Business as usual?
"I don't know. It feels like it," Nagbe said as a wry smile crept across his face. "We'll see when we get out there."
