Hany Mukhtar has made Nashville a bogey team for Atlanta United

Nashville SC’s attacking midfielder Hany Mukhtar might as well announce he’s dropping a mixtape full of diss tracks against Atlanta United. While they momentarily trail the ATL in the Eastern Conference standings, Nashville – and Mukhtar specifically – have become a thorn in the side of the Five Stripes.

Cold hard facts speak for themselves and Mukhtar’s tally of six goals and seven assists against their geographical rivals say a lot about the German’s confidence when he faces them on the pitch. To date, he's accumulated 13 goal contributions – six goals and seven assists – in matches across all competitions against Atlanta.

But even if he really dropped a tape adding verbal abuse into the mix, Mukhtar knows his success is the product of gaffer Gary Smith’s tactics.

"I think it's important this year to also help the other guys to create chances, to create spots to score goals, to give them confidence," Mukhtar said in a release. "I think, in general, I can score goals, but I think it's also important to help the team with assists, with being creative, with putting the guys in action."

As the team’s scoreboard lynchpin, Mukhtar can also brag hard on his involvement in 42 of 63 Nashville goals since the beginning of 2022 – a league high 66.7%.

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"For me, it’s important that the stability in the team is there," Mukhtar said. "If the team is struggling a lot, it’s also difficult for me. Of course, I try to push up the team and bring them to the next level, but I think it’s also very important for me to have a very consistent and strong base. I think from that base, when we play a decent half, then I can show my quality."

But as he lives this moment as a key figure for his club and large shadow United will eventually have to figure out a way out from under, Mukhtar can bask in the glory of earning his bad boy swag and drop humble brags along the way.

"It's an amazing feeling to score a goal in front of your own fans. But, in the end, if we win and I give every game two, three assists, I would sign that today. But, like I said, I will continue scoring goals, and I'm not worried about that,” he said.