ATL Standard

Atlanta United's homegrown midfielder Will Reilly made a significant impact during his Major League Soccer (MLS) debut, conveying his self-assurance and tenacity on the field. In a recent match against FC Cincinnati, he represented his hometown club as if he were a seasoned professional. Decatur native Reilly seamlessly fit into the game, impressing many through his composure and decisive play.

Head coach Ronny Deila expressed his satisfaction with Reilly's performance, stating, "Will was unbelievable, debut game, you can't do more than that. He had the mentality I'm looking for." In the match's final moments, Reilly made a critical interception and precise defensive maneuver, maintaining his poise under pressure and preserving the team's position.

Reflecting on his approach, Reilly stated, “That’s it, staying in control. I’ve never gotten a red card since I was a little kid. I wasn’t too concerned, staying aggressive, not let that dictate my whole mentality."

In his role within the midfield, Reilly's responsibilities were to regain and maintain ball possession. His effectiveness was backed up by statistics presented by the club's head of analytics, Arjun Balaraman. Reilly’s performance was highlighted by his 11 possession regains, including eight interceptions, setting records both at the club and league levels.

Coach Deila emphasized Reilly's reliability: “Trustworthy is the number one word [for] him. That's what we need for everybody in good and bad times.” Reilly joined Atlanta United's Academy at a young age and spent years honing his skills, eventually earning his place in the first team. After a college stint at Stanford, he returned home, determined to prove his value to the club.

Reilly acknowledged the special nature of playing for his hometown club, “I feel like, coming back, I have to earn my stripes again. I can’t just rely on previous work. But it’s definitely special coming back to a place where you’ve already put in so much time and work.”

Reilly seized the opportunity to start, owing to teammate absences. Despite initial nerves, which he described as "butterfly feeling", he enjoyed the experience. His presence on the pitch, combined with teammate Mateusz Klich, contributed to Atlanta United's resilient performance.

Klich praised Reilly, saying, “I'm very happy for him, because he's also a good guy, a hard-working guy, and he's got a future, definitely.” With more opportunities potentially arising due to injuries in the squad, Reilly’s successful debut could see him securing further involvement in future matches.

Coach Deila concluded with an optimistic note, “I think we get a new player today with Will."

Reilly remains focused on continuous improvement, stating, “Keep working my ass off every day, like I’ve been doing. I think the results generally follow through the process.” Reilly's future contributions to Atlanta United seem promising as he solidifies his position within the team.