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Tactical Preview: Atlanta United battles Toronto FC for chance at MLS Cup

Who will be kinged champions of the East?

Atlanta United is just 90 minutes away from securing passage to its second straight MLS Cup Final.

Frank de Boer flexed his tactical muscles this posteason for Atlanta in the MLS Cup playoffs. He used two different formations in one game vs. the New England Revolution, and against the Philadelphia Union he successfully integrated two backups: a player more familiar with the bench than the starting lineup in Florentin Pogba and a player more familiar with the pitch at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw than at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Mikey Ambrose.

At this point, no one can be certain of how Frank de Boer will deploy his side, or with which players. What we do know is that in a game between FdB and a tactician like Greg Vanney, it’s bound to be a chess match played on a soccer field. Over the years, Vanney has utilized everything from a 4-4-2 diamond to a back three during his run of success with Toronto in the postseason. Frank de Boer joked that his assistant, Bob de Klerk, will be getting tapped up by the Toronto coaching staff of which he used to be a part in hopes he will share some information.

Let me plainly state again that he was joking and not at all sending a message to dear old Bob.

Anyway, hope you guys enjoy this video, and let me know what you will be watching for.