With 16 games remaining in the MLS regular season, Atlanta United's aspirations are upstream but not out of reach. Head coach Ronny Deila loves a good metaphor when speaking about his squad:
"We have to push that fantastic boat, Atlanta United, that we are a part of forward," Deila said. "It's a big, big ship, and you need everybody on board, and we have to go in the same direction."
The tides are changing as the playoff race heats up now that the second half of the season is underway. The 5-Stripes had a week off before returning to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground Monday morning. Coaches and players around the club approached the break in different ways — some getting a break from football to rest up and others delving even further into it.
A much needed rest
Vibes were high on a warm, sunny Monday in Marietta, Ga. Jamal Thiaré walked out on the pitch wishing everyone a good morning.
"Beautiful day, enjoy it!" he yelled.
The break — a true one unlike the recent international break that saw plenty of Atlanta United players getting minutes for their countries — comes at the right time. The 5-Stripes have played a lot of football, and their schedule gets tight again in the coming months. Atlanta United are scheduled play 12 matches in the months of July and August, the most over any two-month span this season.
For a team that was losing steam by the time the second half of the New York City match rolled around, a fitness reset is just what the doctor ordered. Out on the pitch Monday, drills were quick and intense as the players came to the training ground with lighter legs.
Deila mentioned Miguel Almirón as someone who had played a lot of matches and would benefit from a break. The Paraguayan's play at Monday's session was crisp, particularly on the ball. Translating that training to matches would unlock Atlanta United's attack even further.
Brooks Lennon, who didn't get a traditional offseason of rest before the season started due to a shoulder injury he had to rehab, took his first real break in quite some time.
"It almost breaks up the season in two," Lennon said of the week off. "It's important to reset. When we've come back to training, it's been very good with a lot of hard work. We've implemented a lot of new ideas, and the quality has been very high."
Crew clash for the first time this season
The squad harped on confidence quite a bit during the earlier winless streak, and it certainly seems like they've got their mojo back at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. On the road, though, there's still work to be done. The 5-Stripes are yet to win away this season. The break sends Atlanta United into a road match fresh and eager to change that.
Columbus Crew is the third-to-last new Eastern Conference team that Atlanta United will face this season, as they've also yet to play D.C. United and Toronto FC. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET Wednesday June 25 at Lower.com Field, another road bout for the 5-Stripes in a streak of six straight.
If there's one standout trait for the Crew this season, it's that they love to keep the ball. They've completed the most passes in MLS this season with 9807, nearly 400 more than second-best San Diego. Those two teams are tied for the lead in possession, boasting a 59.8 percent share of the ball in their matches according to FBref.com.
Atlanta United will need to be comfortable without the ball despite being a team that wants to possess high up the pitch. They'll likely find themselves defending in a low block, a setup that Deila's back-five formation compliments well. That doesn't mean they won't push forward, though, as counter attacking will be the key to punishing the Crew when they give the ball away.
"You have an opportunity to break them when you when you win the ball, so we have to show some quality on the ball," Deila said. "... I think we just have to also accept sometimes that we don't have to have the ball 60, 70 percent of the game. We have to suffer together, enjoy defending and then you will get your opportunities."
Fixing the second half, of games and of the season
Deila said he spent much of his break thinking about institutional changes that could spur a more successful second half of the 2025 campaign. That starts, on a match-to-match level, by leveling up the second-half performances. Atlanta United conceded three in the second 45 against New York City June 12 after playing what Deila considered to be a better first half than their opponents.
"I can accept losing, but the way we lose, I can't accept that," Deila said of the NYCFC match after training Monday. "It's impossible to lose that game 4-0. When you see the first half, we are the [better] team, in my opinion."
That letdown was certainly in part a result of fatigue, but Deila hasn't been one to let that be an excuse for poor second half showings. He's more interested in his players' mentality and willingness to stick together through adversity.
We'll get the chance to see a fresh Atlanta United squad against Columbus Wednesday night, a 5-Stripes side that is keyed in on showing their best for a full 90 minutes. Even in the summer heat, players like Will Reilly, EfraÃn Morales and more stayed late after training Monday practicing long balls with the same intensity as the start of the session.
"[We're] trying to be physical from the kickoff, letting them know we're in the game," Lennon said, "giving everything for the badge and the club for the remaining 16 games."
Deila has walked the line of being a demanding gaffer but also one who empathizes with his players and keeps things positive. As the season pushes on, he's leaning more into the demanding side to get the most out of his squad.
"It's about kindness, it's about togetherness. It's about understanding and supporting each other and being positive, but at the same time also putting demands and standards, because you don't [go] further by just be nice," Deila said. "You have to push each other to get the results we want, to get ourselves over the line, because it's so close in all the games."
Results are the ultimate guide. Deila said he understands his role in shaping the culture of the club and wants to hold everyone accountable. He wants his players to take ownership of their performances and speak out if they feel something needs changing.
"This is culture, and I'm here to change things, and I will," he said. "Everything is about performing. Everything is about, in the end, winning."
