A packed week concludes with a third match in seven days for the 5-Stripes. And head coach Ronny Deila likes it that way.
"I love to play games," he said. "This is much more fun than training every day."
Good news, coach. Philadelphia Union awaits Saturday, May 17 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET, so be ready to show up and show out for an Atlanta United squad that's ready for its final test of the week. Single-match tickets are available here!
Health headed into the weekend
Picking up a result and not conceding in open play against Austin Wednesday was a step forward for Atlanta United, particularly because not everyone was available. Pedro Amador and Brooks Lennon missed the midweek match with injuries, but they'll be back at MBS over the weekend.
Amador's adductor injury is healed, and Lennon recovered from a hamstring injury he picked up against Chicago Fire last Saturday.
Stian Gregersen was the only player listed on Friday's availability report as he'll miss another match with a quad injury he picked up the last time Atlanta played Philadelphia April 19.
Player | Injury | Status |
Stian Gregersen | Quadriceps | Out |
Saba time in Texas
Saba Lobjanidze changed the match when he came on against Austin. As Atlanta United switched from a five-at-the-back formation to a 4-2-3-1 to chase the match, Saba was instrumental in creating chances. He sprinted in behind the Austin FC defense in the 92nd minute and assisted Jamal Thiaré's match-tying goal with a pinpoint low cross. It was Lobjanidze's fourth assist in a season where he's featured all over the Atlanta United attack.
He led the charge with energy off the bench, even in the sweltering Texas heat.
"I did so many sprints on the bench because I knew it's really hot and really hard to breathe," Saba said. "That's why I was warming up really hard."
That understanding about what his preparation needs to look like to translate into match success is part of what makes Lobjanidze such a valuable person to have in the building. He brings with him an unrivaled intensity. In training Friday, Saba punted a ball after conceding in a drill — he approaches everything he does with a competitive edge that sets him apart. It's why his fitness is top level whether he comes off the bench or starts.
"[Philadelphia] is a tough team, and we have to be tough," he said. "They are physically good, they are running, and we have to be the same as they are and even more."
Getting Manu going again
Emmanuel Latte Lath started the season blazing. Since tallying six goal contributions in his first six games, though, he's gone without one in the last six matches.
He's been in and out of training for family matters: he just welcomed a child into the world with his wife. It's a real-life moment that carries incredible weight and is bigger than football.
"It's been a lot around Manu," Deila said. "It's been many things outside the pitch that has been a lot of load. He's come here with a lot of expectations. He started like a fire, and then now the fire is not been where it has been ... Now, I think everything is settled. I think we will see the better of Manu going forward."
No matter whether the final product is there, Latte Lath's legs are always moving. Against Austin, he made run after run and settled long balls to create attacking opportunities. If he's to be more of a finisher than an initiator, other players like Alexey Miranchuk and Miguel Almirón will need to find him more often in goalscoring spaces. That means progressing the ball themselves and letting Latte Lath do what he does to seal the deal.
The Ivorian was fleet-footed in training Friday, taking on defenders with ease in short-sided scrimmages. Saba, who has also experienced having a child in the middle of the season, knows it won't be long before Latte Lath is back to his best.
"I think Manu is ready for everything," Saba said. "I [speak] every day with him, and he's so happy. I think it will be good for him."
Growing into the first rematch of the season
Saturday marks the first time that Atlanta United plays a reverse fixture this season. Philadelphia Union won the first matchup 3-0 at Subaru Park April 19. Now, with the home advantage of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the 5-Stripes have a chance to even the season series.
Union were very efficient with their shots on goal back in April, scoring on three of their four shots against Atlanta United's goal. The first step to a better result this time around is challenging those shots by closing quickly in the box. Quinn Sullivan's opener in the 3-0 defeat came after multiple failed attempts to clear the ball.
From there, Deila wants his players to be courageous in build up and meet Philadelphia's pressure with confidence.
"It's about, when you win the ball, what you do with it," Deila said. "If you play slow and backwards, you're going to add pressure on yourself, and then you're going to end up kicking long and get everything over you. It's about when you're winning it there to be brave."
Philadelphia has been one of the best attacking teams in MLS this season. Once again, the 5-Stripes will have their hands full with forward Tai Baribo, who leads the MLS Golden Boot race with 10 goals. Part of his success is thanks to Union's ability to share the ball. The club leads MLS in team assists with 34. That figure includes secondary assists.
The 5-Stripes want to take their game to the Union, not the other way around. In the open-to-media portion of training Friday, players worked on pressing with the "Over the River" drill from last week. It's one of the loudest moments from Atlanta United training — the players love the competition and argue their cases for touches being out on one another. They're hoping that energy carries through to tomorrow's tango with the Union.
"Now that we're at home, we have to try to get a little bit higher and win the ball higher," Deila said. "... That's the things we're talking about a lot, and when we are in our best periods, you see a lot of those things ... Now, I feel we [can] find the ground to grow again. I have a feeling we are on the right pathway."
