Efraín Morales on Pressure, Pride, and the Path Forward

Efraín Morales has already lived the kind of soccer journey some young players only dream about: starting for Atlanta United after developing with Atlanta United 2, playing in South American World Cup qualifiers with Bolivia’s national team, and balancing it all while pursuing a college degree at Georgia Tech. He sat down with Madison Crews and Jason Longshore for a conversation after training on Monday to talk about learning how to step up, overcoming setbacks, and what it means to represent both his city and Bolivia.

Starting for Atlanta United and Bolivia

When asked what it means to represent both his city and his heritage, Morales didn’t hesitate, “For my Dad and all Bolivians, it’s the biggest thing to be able to go and play for your national team for soccer, so for my dad, seeing me be able to do that, he was proud and happy to see me do that. I have a bunch of family that are there that are very happy for me, and I just hope that I can return the gesture.” The pressure that comes with playing in South America, he says, has shaped him. “Pressure and nerves aspect of the games, games in South America can give that, the culture revolves around soccer. It is a big deal for all the fans, and being able to manage that and play the games confidently was big.”

Finding His Voice and Growing as a Leader

(photos courtesy of ATLUTD)

Morales has stepped into more of leadership role on the field. In a position that requires calmness and effective communication, he is slowly navigating how to use his voice in the backline. He credits the coaching staff and his peers with helping him grow in that area. “The coaching staff giving me more responsibility has helped. Being a center back, you have to be vocal. I’ve been told that since I was in the academy with Atlanta United.” Having a mix of veterans and younger players has helped Morales find a balance of advice and relatability, “it’s so important to have a balance, you have older guys giving advice while you have the balance of the younger guys having the ability to relate to you.”

Balancing Soccer and School

He’s also learning to juggle a demanding schedule off the field as he is also working to earn a degree from Georgia Tech. “At times, it’s hard and a lot of work, but there is an education in it, and there is also an outlet with it, with having a different social life and being around other students my age. Having different social relationships at school and soccer, lots of stress and nerves from soccer, having friends outside of the environment helps me take a step back and give a breather a bit." Efraín says that navigating his life at school has actually made him a better player on the field. “Having those outlets have been helpful to disconnect a bit, sometimes stress at the facility makes it hard to step away, having this college/different social life helps.”

Adapting and Earning Minutes with Atlanta United

This season, Morales has seen time with both the first team and Atlanta United 2, and those opportunities have been very important to his development. “Consistent playing time helps your game a lot.” Playing consistently for the 2's gave him the chance to adjust a few things on the field and learn to adapt to what works and what doesn’t. He expands on this by saying, “Having adaptability is one of the bigger ones for a lot of young guys, is you never know when your name is going to be called on. So, always being prepared and having a ‘next man up’ mentality. Being able to stay healthy, being able to play with Atlanta United 2, and staying level-headed through the ups and downs.”

Building Chemistry with Luis Abram

A key figure in Morales’s development this year has been center back partner Luis Abram. “I think we complement each other very well, and both are competitive because we want to win. But at the same time, we understand each other on the field." Morales also points out that they understand each other’s play where they don’t have to yell across the field to fix a few things throughout a game, “We can be more intentional with our communication at a normal voice-level and that’s when we get the best out of each other.”

Their styles of play differ, and that could be the reason that makes their pairing so good. “Luis is the consistency and the experience aspect of it. I think I might bring a little bit more risk in the build out and might do a few more things he wouldn’t do, but like I said, there is a risk and reward for it. He is going to complete all his passes and make all his tackles, I think you get the best of both worlds.”

But more than tactics, Abram has helped Morales develop a healthier mindset, “The biggest thing for me was being comfortable with my mistakes. Having him next to me, I know he is never going to get mad at me for it unless there is something that needs to be changed but he’s there and is going to support me regardless of the mistakes I make.”

Ronny Deila has stressed to his players this season that they have permission to be brave and make mistakes, he does not want his players to play safe. Morales said about his game, “In terms of the last few years in comparison to this year, it is being okay to make mistakes. Obviously center back is a position where you have to be really careful with the type of mistakes you make, which is another thing I have been really trying to work on, mistakes are a part of the game. Even though you are the young guy and want to break into the team, mistakes will happen regardless.”

With Abram having less of a vocal presence in the backline, Morales has found a way to step up into a more leadership role. “It makes me more comfortable to be who I am and take the lead a little bit. It’s brought out more of a leadership role in the backline.”

Overcoming Injuries and Staying Level-Headed

In his first two years as a professional, Morales played in ten matches for Atlanta United 2 and struggled with injuries. He is open about the challenges he’s faced. “I signed really early and had injuries and not able to get on the field consistently.” It was a tough period. “It was hard mentally at 16 years old, lots of stress and anxiety.”

He mentions that communication with medical staff, being able to focus on his studies at school, and having his family as an outlet got him through this tough time.

Now, after featuring regularly with the first team, he’s able to look back with perspective. “It was really rewarding in the sense that when I was fifteen to sixteen years old, for me it was like a black hole, it felt like I wasn’t going to get out. So obviously seeing where I am now, and being able to look back at it, does feel good, but at the same time, you have to stay level-head, it's been three games and in the grand scheme of things, that doesn’t mean anything, Its just a matter of onto the next.”

Looking Ahead

Whether it’s on the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, in Bolivia, or on campus at Georgia Tech, Morales is carving out his path, one challenge, and one opportunity, at a time. The next challenge is the Chicago Fire tonight at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, pregame coverage starts on 92.9 The Game radio and the Audacy app at 6:30pm with kickoff set for 7:40pm.