The Pitch: Charlotte’s Interim Head Coach Cut from World-Class Coaching Cloth

MLS action returns this weekend, with a trio of nationally broadcast games, including ABC telecasts on both Saturday and Sunday and an action-packed UniMás thriller that has all the makings of a high-scoring showdown.

First up, Charlotte FC puts the prestigious pedigree of interim head coach Christian Lattanzio to the test, as the former assistant – bred from global coaching icons – prepares to lead the expansion side against the New York Red Bulls and Brazilian scoring sensation Luquinhas on Saturday at Bank of America Stadium (3 p.m. ET, ABC / ESPN Deportes)

Lattanzio brings a coaching acumen that was developed under top-tier experts, including former English National Team manager Fabio Capello, current Italy National Team head coach and Euro 2020 winner Roberto Mancini, and from three years of experience as an assistant under Patrick Vieira at New York City FC from 2016-18. Prior to his role at NYCFC, Lattanzio held similar assistant coaching positions at Manchester City Football Club from 2013-2015, and he later served as an assistant for OGC Nice in France’s top-flight (Ligue 1) from 2018-2020.

With Charlotte’s stalwart internationals Karol Świderski and Kamil Jóźwiak away representing Poland in the UEFA Nations League, all eyes will be on Lattanzio to reignite the season starting hot streak of Ben Bender, the 2022 No. 1 overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas, while also producing a game plan to stop the hot pursuit of Red Bulls’ Designated Player Luquinhas.

Luquinhas has five goals and five assists across all competitions since joining the Red Bulls this season, with an offensive impact that most recently featured two scores in the club’s 4-1 win over D.C. United on May 28 (Watch Here). The Brazilian star has led the Red Bulls to a 6-1-3 record across all competitions when he starts a match, and the club has gone 6-1-1 in the eight games in which he has recorded either a goal or an…