Atlanta United returns for week one of preseason training

The snow has mostly melted at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground as Atlanta United’s players reported for the first week of preseason training camp.

The club’s first training session was Sunday, after being pushed back due to the weather, and the camp has continued throughout the week. This is the first opportunity that new Head Coach Ronny Deila got to work with the players and begin to establish his tactical identity on the team.

“In the meetings we’ve had so far, he’s been straightforward in saying ‘This is how I want to play, this is what I expect from you. If you don’t, we’re going to have a problem,'” said center-back Derrick Williams. “So that’s been good and I think we’ve needed that in this team.”

From talking with some of the players this week, there are high expectations for the club in 2025 to compete for trophies. With the Cinderella run that the Five Stripes made in the MLS Cup Playoffs last year where they knocked out Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, there is a sense of optimism about what the team can accomplish this season.

“We have to keep going. Like what we did last year, but we have to be better,” said winger Saba Lobjanidze. “For me, it’s all personality, you know? Like every day you have to be better.”

Assistant Coach Carl Robinson led Friday’s training session while Deila was out receiving his work visa. Other notable absences from training included midfielder Bartosz Slisz and center-back Stian Gregersen, who were attending appointments to receive green cards, and goalkeeper Josh Cohen, who was sick. Fullback Brooks Lennon was also absent as he continues recovering from the dislocated shoulder he suffered during last year’s playoff series against Inter Miami.

There were a few new faces taking part in the day’s training. Aside from a few unidentified trialists, new signings Mateusz Klich, Cayman Togashi and Will Reilly participated. Klich, 34, was acquired in December through a trade with D.C. United in exchange for Atlanta’s first-round pick in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft. The Polish midfielder brings European experience having previously played for VFL Wolfsburg and Leeds United.

“Yeah, he’s one of my closest friends in football,” said Williams, who played with him at D.C. United. “He’s a great guy, he works hard. On the pitch, you can expect good quality. He runs a lot, I think he averages at least close to 5K a game.”

Atlanta United captain and goalkeeper, Brad Guzan, also had words of praise for Klich having played against him the past couple of seasons.

“When you talk about playing against DC, you had to have an eye obviously on Christian Benteke, but also him [Klich],” said Guzan. “He was the guy that made them tick and made them go and somebody that covers ground in the middle of the pitch. Somebody that can play both sides of the ball.”

Klich made no mistake when asked about his expectations for this season.

“To win the league. Because the team looks good and its going to be better,” said Klich. “And my expectations are that we’re going to win the league because that’s why I’m here.”

He also shed some light on how Atlanta United will look under Deila and shared some of the key tactical principles that the team will be aiming to execute throughout the season.

“You can expect us to be aggressive, a high-pressing team, and that’s the main thing, I think. And then obviously we want to keep ball when have possession, so I expect us to be playing entertaining football,” Klich said.

Atlanta United’s first preseason game will be on Jan. 25 against Chattanooga FC at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, TN. The match will be open to the public and livestreamed on Atlanta United’s official website. Kick-off is scheduled for 3 pm.