Training Ground Buzz: Deila and Henderson Talk Transfers as Matchday Nears
Atlanta United head coach Ronny Deila and Sporting Director Chris Henderson shared a brief one-on-one on the pitch Friday morning ahead of the team’s final training session before a pivotal home match. While the details of their exchange remain under wraps—Deila called it “formalities” with a grin—the timing is notable. With the Secondary Transfer Window looming, Henderson and his team are actively scouting reinforcements, while Deila remains focused on fine-tuning the squad at hand.
Matchday Return for Derrick Williams
There’s good news on the injury front: center back Derrick Williams returns to the matchday squad after recovering from a foot injury suffered June 12. He’s trained fully over the past two weeks and is expected to be available Saturday night. However, the rest of the availability report remains unchanged, with goalkeeper Josh Cohen (arm), midfielder Jay Fortune (foot), and defender Stian Gregersen (quad) still sidelined.
Injury Report – Friday, July 18:
- Josh Cohen – Arm – Out
- Jay Fortune – Foot – Out
- Stian Gregersen – Quadriceps – Out
Counter-Pressing: Deila’s Tactical Evolution
Wednesday’s 2-2 draw against Chicago Fire showcased a more assertive pressing style from Atlanta United, particularly in counter-pressing scenarios. Midfielder Bartosz Slisz was a standout, winning balls high up the pitch and disrupting Chicago’s buildup.
“I talk and challenge him a lot, because I expect a lot from him,” said Deila. “He has to be a bit like Roy Keane for me. You should be scared of not doing the job around him.”
That level of accountability is part of Deila’s larger push for a cohesive team mindset. He praised his squad’s energy and pressing over the past two matches and explained the logic behind the approach: “When we lose the ball [high up], if you run five meters, you don’t need to run 100.”
Slisz’s 57th-minute ball recovery against Chicago led directly to Atlanta’s first goal, a stunning strike from Alexey Miranchuk—an ideal example of transition play yielding results.
Sharpening the Final Third
Pedro Amador, who missed the season’s earlier loss to Charlotte with injury, is eager to make an impact this time around. His focus? Execution.
“We’re recovering a lot of balls in the final third, but what we’re missing is that final pass or finishing,” Amador said. “We just need to be sharper and more precise.”
Fixing the Set Piece Problem
Set pieces remain a sore spot for Atlanta, having conceded from corners in two consecutive matches. The squad dedicated a significant portion of Friday’s training session to addressing this weakness.
“We have to be more focused and aggressive in our zones,” Amador said. “We know we’ve let in too many goals on set pieces. It’s a mentality we have to fix.”
Southern Rivalry Reloaded
Saturday’s match against Charlotte FC is loaded with playoff implications. Charlotte currently occupies the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, sitting in ninth place. Atlanta is looking to build momentum and close the gap. Their last meeting, a 2-0 loss on March 1, is still fresh in the players’ minds.
Charlotte has conceded the third-most shots in MLS this season—an opportunity Atlanta must capitalize on. With the 17s expected to bring full energy at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the environment is primed for a fiery Southern showdown.
Deila is encouraging risk-taking but cautions his players not to cut corners when the pressure ramps up.
“It’s about understanding and communication,” he said. “But it’s also a mindset. There are no shortcuts in life—and not in football either.”
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 19 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Tickets are still available for what’s expected to be a high-stakes, high-energy clash.
