Just two more matches remain on Atlanta United's five-game road spell, and results are more important than ever. The away trip hasn't gone to plan for the 5-Stripes, but they've got two more games to prove they have chance to claim a spot in the 2025 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
At Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground Monday, training was a standard set up. The squad started with rondos get the legs moving, then a variation of the "Over the River" possession drill that sends players back and forth possessing the ball in a rectangle.
The key difference this morning was that Atlanta United scrimmaged 11v11, something they usually only do later in the week for weekend matches. As per usual, media was closed off during that time, but those runs taking place on a Monday could indicate head coach Ronny Deila and his coaching staff want more time for their players to settle into their tactics for the week.
A turnaround starts off the ball
The stakes get higher with each match as the MLS season draws further on. Atlanta United is 11 points off a Wild Card playoff spot and are slowly running out of chances to pick up points. Still, with 15 more regular season matches, they have a chance to turn their season around and compete for the MLS Cup. For Alexey Miranchuk, that doesn't change anything about his approach to the next couple of matches.
"We don't think this way," Miranchuk said when asked if the next two matches on the road are must-wins. "Obviously, we need to start to get points from away games. We want to change these things."
The mentality is the same in preparation, but during the match is a different story. The squad is focusing on its attitude out of possession. Deila and his coaching staff want the club to be the driving force in matches, commanding the game through possession and passing. But what they want sometimes isn't what they get, as Atlanta United has had to hunker down in defense a fair bit over the course of this road trip. How they can get the most out of those efforts is the next question.
"I think the reaction when we lose the ball, when we get get back to defense and all of this stuff," Miranchuk said. "[These are] basic things and most important. I think we're really good in these aspects, and we have to get back to this."
Miranchuk makes a good point. Transition moments after giveaways have been costly time and time again for Atlanta United this season. That's as much of a mental test as it is physical, staying aware with a head on a swivel for runners.
The defense patching itself up is the number one priority right now for the 5-Stripes, having conceded seven goals in the last two matches. Whether that demands a tactical change is yet to be seen, but the health of the backline certainly has played a part. Deila has pointed out at multiple points this season the amount of rotation the defense has undergone due to injuries. The summer transfer window, which opens Thursday July 24, could be an opportunity to add talent there and elsewhere in the squad.
EfraÃn Morales' season debut and where he's focused going forward
Atlanta United's Homegrown center back made his first MLS start of the 2025 season against Columbus Crew. He spoke to media Monday about how he thought he fared.
"It was definitely a difficult game. I think I did all right, but I guess all right is as far as I would say," Morales said. "There's always room for improvement."
Morales showed understanding of the facets of his game he needs to work on, particularly positioning. Because he drifted wide a little too often, he said, Columbus were able to find balls in between the defensive line. That comes with time and chemistry with the rest of the backline, something that's been hard to come by for any Atlanta United defender this season due to injuries and rotation.
The man who started next to him at center back, Luis Abram, is one player who could potentially be quick to gel with Morales in defense. They're both South American, and Morales said their cultural similarities and existing friendship could help him settle in to matches.
"He's always been very consistent and steady," Morales said of Abram. "At the end of the day, I think the next thing that's needed is for us to actually get in-game experience, which is the most important thing."
The Bolivian international has played significant minutes for his country in FIFA 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. The experience, and the pressure that comes with it, was great preparation for his first Atlanta United start of the season. There's nothing quite as illuminating as match reps, and Morales is set on earning more of those with his club.
"It's everything, you can ask any of the players out here," he said. "It doesn't matter how much running you do, how much gym you do. the best players in the world, they have consistent game time, and that's really how they get better."
Next up for the 5-Stripes are two teams — D.C. United and Toronto FC — who are also near the bottom of the Eastern Conference. That can come with expectations of results and subsequent pressure, but Morales shared Miranchuk's sentiment about labeling Atlanta Untied's next two matches as "must wins".
"Every game is a must win," Morales said. "D.C. [United] and Toronto [FC] are struggling a little bit now, but that doesn't mean much in MLS in the sense that any team can beat any team. You just need to take it with a full head of steam."
