Ronny Deila, Atlanta United’s head coach, emphasized a familial and humble approach by personally preparing for training. As the team faces a critical stretch of five home games, trust in each other and self-belief will be crucial for success. Deila announced the return of key players Miguel Amador and Brooks Lennon from injury, which will enhance the squad’s attacking width. Training has focused on creating chemistry and fluidity in their offensive play, as they prepare for a matchup against the New York Red Bulls. Deila stresses the importance of maintaining focus during challenges, urging consistency in their game strategy.
Ronny Deila was the first to arrive at the pitch at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground on Thursday. Out of all the training sessions I’ve observed this season, this was the earliest he has shown up. He headed to the equipment shed and started setting up cones for practice. This humble act from a head coach could have easily been assigned to an assistant.
Deila’s approach to leadership focuses on fostering a family-like atmosphere, and it’s evident that he aims to show he is not above contributing hands-on. This is how he cultivates trust within his squad and motivates his players to rely on one another during every training session.
Trust is precisely what Atlanta United requires at this moment. Trust in their skills, trust in one another, and trust in their preparation. The team is about to embark on a challenging stretch of five home games out of six, with nearly all their opponents hailing from the Eastern Conference. This represents a significant chance to shake off the loss to Charlotte and keep pursuing a top-four finish.
They will kick off against the New York Red Bulls at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 8.
“Home game, it doesn’t matter who you’re facing, whether first place or last,” Saba Lobjanidze mentioned after training on Thursday. “We need to go for three points.”
Reinforcements inbound
Atlanta United’s fully equipped squad has yet to take the field this season, but it appears that is nearing a reality in the upcoming weeks. Fullbacks Pedro Amador and Brooks Lennon are back in training and expected to be available soon, as per Deila. Their return will significantly bolster a position that recently required center back Luis Abram to step in during the match against Charlotte.
Homegrowns Matt Edwards and Dominik Chong Qui have gained some trust themselves while filling in at fullback. They’ll not only motivate Amador and Lennon during training to elevate their performance but will also provide fresh energy off the bench.
“We’ll have more width in the squad,” Deila stated. “They tend to tire faster because they cover more ground, similar to the wingers. Having depth in these two positions is crucial to sustaining our attacking play and maintaining good width in our game.”
Mateusz Klich returned to training after suffering from flu-like symptoms that kept him out of the Charlotte match. Deila mentioned that he might be fit to play on Saturday.
The more these players share the pitch and gain real match experience, the clearer it will be what heights this Atlanta United team can achieve this season. Nevertheless, despite the injuries they are facing, the beginning of the season proves they have ample depth to compete effectively.
Where you at?
Chemistry requires time, and it is not always a straightforward process. As Atlanta United encounters various opponents with different setups, they will need to adapt more quickly each week.
It’s apparent that getting the ball into the box is a priority for this team. During Thursday’s training, players engaged in drills that necessitated making runs and delivering or receiving crosses into the box to score past the goalkeeper. Those resting rotated back in the path of play, compelling the group participating in the drill to move fluidly and think creatively.
Executing counter-attacks is also important. The impressive speed of this attacking unit makes any long ball a threat, especially when opposing defenses are outnumbered. The next step is for the player receiving that ball to decide how to create a scoring opportunity. Where should they position themselves? Should they cut inside or move towards the sideline? That shared muscle memory will make attacking feel instinctive, though it won’t happen overnight.
“It’s a new team, and that’s normal,” Saba said. “There are mistakes, but also positives. We’re all professionals, and we’re all learning.”
For Saba, playing on the left side of the attack is a shift from last season when he was more frequently positioned on the right. He mentioned that he is still working on understanding when to cut inside and how to be impactful on the left wing.
Deila is confident that he will soon be operating at peak performance.
“His drive to succeed is incredibly strong,” Deila remarked. “And I told him, ‘You can’t play the game three times before it actually happens.’ You have to concentrate on what you need to do … He has trained exceptionally well this year, so I believe it’s just a matter of time before it all comes together.”
‘Deal with changes’
Anyone who has played or watched soccer understands the feeling of going down 1-0. Initially, there’s frustration, but doubt starts to creep in. Where did things break down? What needs to change? While these questions are crucial to consider later, in the heat of the moment, it’s often better to adhere to your preparation and stick with what was effective.
Deila believes that Atlanta United’s second-half struggles come down to trust. He emphasized the need for his team to remain focused on the fundamentals and maintain composure amid adversity.
“It’s about how we respond when we go 1-0 down,” he said. “We need to continue doing the same things and manage the emotions we feel. We can’t just start doing everything differently from what worked well in the first half.”
In a league like MLS, where tactics differ immensely from team to team, preparation is crucial. The Red Bulls play an open style and won’t solely focus on possession. They lost the possession battle in their last match against Nashville but still secured a 2-0 win.
“It’s a completely different game from previous matches, and that’s what makes it interesting,” Deila noted. “In every game, opponents have their unique style, so we know what we need to do.”
So far, Atlanta United has demonstrated that they are preparing effectively. The two first halves have been affirming and active on both sides of the field. As the game dynamics shift, that’s when the 5-Stripes need to dig in.
“This is what I mean by keeping things simple,” Deila said. “We’ll stay disciplined and manage the changes and situations that arise within the game.”