ATL Standard

Atlanta United is intensifying its training as the team prepares for a crucial match against Inter Miami. Head coach Ronny Deila had his players train for around two hours at the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground. The squad aims to improve their second-half performances, which were highlighted by inconsistency in a recent match against New York Red Bulls.

Key players Pedro Amador and Brooks Lennon are expected to return from injuries. Amador played a full 90 minutes in the last game and expressed his dual commitment to both attack and defense: “I'm an attacking player, so of course I like to attack,” he said. “But I know being a defender, the first job is to defend.”

Lennon has also been making progress after recovering from a shoulder injury sustained last year. He noted, “We all collaborated together and formulated a plan as soon as the injury happened.” Despite expecting a longer recovery time, Lennon is ready to play again sooner than anticipated.

During training sessions, Deila focuses on building up plays with balance and patience. He remarked on finding the right moments for forward play versus holding possession: “It’s finding the balance between the moments when we need to have more patience and the moments when we can play forward,” said Amador.

The team worked on horizontal drills aimed at creating attacks through side-to-side play, opening space for runs and crosses into the box. Lennon praised these strategies, saying they allow him to deliver dangerous crosses: “I think [it’s] going to be great for me," he commented.

As Atlanta United continues its preparations, players remain focused on improving their scoring opportunities despite not having scored in two recent games. Amador remains optimistic about their offensive potential: "I would be more concerned if we weren't creating those … I think we just need to be a little more concentrated in that final aspect and in our finishing."