As the 2024 season ended for Atlanta United 2, Madison Crews sat down with midfielder Jacob Williams to recap the season as a whole for the 2’s, but also his development as a player and a leader with Atlanta.
What are some of your biggest takeaways from this season?
“Obviously, it's not the way that we all wanted the season to play out, but at the end of the day, I think we can take a lot of positives out from it. A lot of players were able to develop and continue their careers in a positive way. I thought we had some really good performances, obviously weren't able to consistently tie those together to get us into the playoffs, but at the end of the day, I think everything's a learning moment and we can take this year and learn from it and develop continuously in our careers.
I think everybody would be happy to see the progress they've made even through the ups and downs of how the season played off and how they're able to develop individually as well as like a team and coaching staff included. Everybody grew from this experience. I think it was, as much as it was a downfall, not making it to the playoffs, I think everybody can take the positives out and say that it was a good experience.”
Jason, Jon, and me... all of us have talked about this season, about this group in particular for the 2’s, it's the most connected and the most together we've seen. You all seem so friendly with each other. You all like each other. You all are just always hanging out. What has it been like to really have that bond with everyone on and off the pitch?
“The guys have been amazing. Everybody has like fully developed into that locker room and people are like learning off of each other. It's been a great atmosphere for coaches and players to learn from each other, past and present experiences, how they fit in different categories. Everybody has really learned that aspect of what it takes to be a team and how to progress forward. I think everybody enjoyed the experience. Practice was always fun to go to, games were a nice happy environment. Everybody was connected and ready to go to the next step. I think this year definitely showed the commitment that we all had into the progress of this club and this team and everybody was building each other up for that next stage of their careers.”
Going back to you, starting out originally, what was that conversation like in coming to Atlanta and how do you feel like you've really found and made Atlanta your home here?
“I had a great year at Crown Legacy. It was a great experience for me. My first year as a pro, though Atlanta seemed very unique, and especially with the city, you know, like, Charlotte has their sports, but Atlanta seems like a different atmosphere when it comes to all the sports teams here, the different distractions that can be, but the city itself seemed to create a different atmosphere that everybody seemed to enjoy.
The fans were amazing. The people around the city were just enthusiastic about everything. I think that in itself brought a different dimension to it for me and really made it enjoyable for the experience and how everybody just came together as one to see the best out of each other. II think that creates a great atmosphere for any player or a person within the city.”
Second year as a pro under your belt. What are some of the biggest things that you have learned about yourself?
“Definitely to handle adversity. I mean life as a pro is not easy. There's definitely ups and downs that you’ll have to face, and for me, that was the biggest takeaway to not dwell in the moment and like get down, but to always seek the positive and to always push yourself to give your all every single day.
That's what makes you better as a pro or any concept that you do in life is push yourself every day to make sure that you're getting the best out of yourself. You're learning, you're constantly developing, and I think that makes for a great person and a great athlete as well to just be determined in your goals and keep pushing forward.”
Having had that experience already in MLS Next Pro, did you share a lot of wisdom, especially about the league to maybe some of the newcomers that did come into the 2’s season and taking on a bit of that leadership role and helping out?
“We had a lot of young guys, especially integrated in this year and a lot of them are new to the process, and a lot of us older guys have been in the fold, have seen things that these young players haven't witnessed. I think we all were able to help them develop not just physically, but mentally in the process, because it can be a challenge, especially if you're not seeing minutes or you're waiting for your opportunity. I think that experience that me and other players had definitely gave them confidence to just keep pushing and develop as individuals and players and keep striving for those goals because especially a lot of the guys that we incorporated this year were young.
I know they all have their dreams and visions to let them know that a couple bad games isn't the end of the world or a couple of good runs doesn't mean you can just let your foot off the gas to always keep striving for the best every single day, training, games. I think that helped them a lot in their careers, and I hope that it carries forward to the next season.”
I want to touch on one player, Dominik Chong-Qui. What was it like kind of bouncing off of each other and being there and watching him develop, but also being there as that leader and someone he can lean on to. What was that relationship like?
“It was definitely a great relationship. Me and Dom are very close. We work together a lot, especially with me starting off the season and him finishing the season. It was definitely a nice ride, I would say me and him learning off of each other, me seeing things that he does well, but also not do well and helping him along those courses, but also him teaching me the aspect of leadership and how it's like to develop people physically and mentally.
I think we carried off of each other and helped each other produce. I mean, me and him in training are constantly doing the same things, sharing the same type of aspect to the game that I think helped both of us in developing. He was just a great person to work with on and off the pitch just showed professionalism and him learning off me, me learning off him, especially me being an older guy, learning how some of the young kids developed throughout the game.
It was just a great experience, and I think we both helped each other in that aspect to develop his young career and my year progressing as well. I think it was just an amazing experience for both of us.”
Is that a role you ever thought you would be in, being that leader?
“Obviously in the professional game, everybody goes with their ups and downs. I mean, me personally, I haven't really been in that situation of being a leader to the young guys, especially in the position that I was in. Most of the guys that played before me or after me were kind of already seasoned vets. It was definitely a unique experience, and I thought I learned a lot from it. Being able to coach and to mentor the young kids on what's right, what's not right, how to act professional and keep developing as young ballers that they are. I mean it was unique in my aspect, but I wouldn't take anything from it.
It was just an amazing experience, and the young kids played their part and helping the leaders know how to develop themselves and how to progress forward in their careers. Being older, you have to have more experience and stuff, but at the same time, the young kids also bring in different aspect to the table that sometimes, it can catch you off guard, but you guys both work together in order to develop that chemistry and the atmosphere that's enjoyable for everybody.”
Last couple of questions for you, Jacob, but one thing that has been really cool is watching the coaching staff as well. What are some of the biggest things you've learned from Steve [Cooke], from Jose [Silva] and everyone there this season being with Atlanta?
“I definitely think it's the mentality aspect that he taught me the most. They're always generating a culture that tries to thrive every single day and no matter what the ups and downs are to always want the best out of yourself. I think that was a huge push for me because a lot of guys, especially in this pro life, whether you're playing, whether you're not playing, whether you're struggling in practice one week and hitting it off the next week, always want that winning mentality and to push yourself every day.
That mentality I think signifies the culture of Atlanta United and what they try to bring, and the coaching staff did a great job of pushing that through to every single player, not taking days off, always pushing for the best. I think that for any player is a great atmosphere to be in and always wanting to win every single day. They didn't shorthand us at all, so I think that was probably the biggest lesson they taught me this year.”
First year in Atlanta, what has made Atlanta home for you?
“I think it was probably the culture. I mean, everybody from the first team to the second team, even the Academy, everybody wants everybody to do well. Everybody is pushing for the best out of all age groups and pushing that career and that promise that like, okay, you do well, there's eventually a spot to produce for the first team. I think that culture is important for everybody.
Every MLS team, every pro team, has that opportunity to present yourself in front of the biggest stage. I don't see anywhere that has done that better than Atlanta. I really respect that about the club and how they were able to give players that dream and that courage to push through the tough moments and the great moments and see yourself as something bigger and try and elevate yourself to a level that some players never think they can imagine. Some players think that they're there already. I think they were great in judging those moments and pushing everybody to be the best that they can be.”
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Atlanta United 2 finished the 2024 season with an overall record of 7-14-7 and finished 13th in the Eastern Conference table. Six Academy players, Dominik Cong Qui, Kaiden Moore, Miles Hadley, Landon Zuniga, Jonathan Ransom and Stephen Hurlock, made their professional debut with the 2’s this season. Five 2’s players, which includes Jacob Williams, Matias Gallardo, Matt Edwards, Ashton Gordon and Alan Carleton, were called up to the first team this season.
There are so many positives this season for the 2’s and everyone here at the SDH Network are looking forward to seeing what this squad can do next season!
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