Ronny Deila wasn’t thrilled with Keylor Navas’s actions, and referee Keylor Herrera’s officiating, after Navas failed to leave the pitch in a timely manner after being shown a red card late in Atlanta United’s 3-2 loss on Saturday in Leagues Cup.
In the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time, Navas made a sliding tackle on Jamal Thiare as the Atlanta striker received a pass from Will Reilly and made a run toward goal. Herrera promptly reached into his back pocket and pulled out a red card.
However, it was about six or seven minutes later until Navas made his way off the pitch, albeit while shouting instructions to his defense for what would be a free kick just outside the box.
That drew the ire of Deila, who was shown a red card after the final whistle.
“I need to stand up for my boys. It’s crazy. It’s a clear red card, (and) he can stand 15 minutes on the pitch and control the wall and whatever he wants to do on the pitch. It’s like if you are a star, you can do whatever you want,” Deila said after the match. “Where are the consequences in the whole thing?”
Deila was also frustrated with a penalty awarded to Pumas in the 86th minute, as Ronald Hernandez was ruled to have taken down Jorge Ruvalcaba just inside the left edge of the box.
That, plus his grievances with Navas’s actions, ultimately led to a red card, the first in his coaching career, Deila said.
“I’ve been coaching 20 years (and) I’ve never gotten a red card in my life,” he said. “I just said, ‘This is a joke.’ That’s what I said. And it was. …
“Sometimes we have to react. I can’t sit and watch it because it’s not the same rules for everybody.”
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It’s easy to pile on Deila but I am glad he spoke up. I’ve been watching soccer all my life and never seen a ref let a red carded player stay for that long. And then add in the ridiculous penalty where the foul was outside the box and the player dove once in the box.
When I saw it live, I was convinced it would be overturned but forgot about the incompetence of concacaf officials.
I think Deila should show up for the game; and when they tell him to leave, proceed to give instructions for 10 minutes before exiting the field.
I checked leagues cups standings – there are three MX and three MLS already eliminated. As a pre wooden spoon warm up it is fitting that both Pinedas Atlas and our beloved Ronny Uniteds are both eliminated before their third game later this week. I can’t wait to watch these two coaching giants match wits.
Agreed…If Deila isn’t suspended for the red card.
Unless the red card is rescinded, Deila will miss the match on Wednesday
Ronny needs to be quiet and focus on his crap team, crap lineups, crap coaching, crap subs and crap tactics.
I agree with Delia on his points, and that penalty was incredibly soft. Pumas player literally just dove as he entered the box. Total BS. Delia does not coach Lennon or Hernandez to foul in the box; has nothing to do with tactics. It’s individual player choices that killed us in this game.
Respectfully disagree
Starts Saba on wrong side
Starts Lennon who cost us dearly with the penalty and nearly had the boneheaded header back into the box for another big UNAM chance, throw in to no one, and played him on wrong side as well.
Team clearly gassed and waits too long to sub. Then subs off Saba and not Lennon.
Starts Guzan over Hibbert in a lost season.
I’m sorry, but there are too many questionable decisions to list.
Tbf, that was Saba’s best game of 2025 so I’m not super upset about his left side placement.
Agree. Saba was dangerous and highly effective. He scored from the left and assisted from the right. The potential I see is the fluidity or our wingers, tucking inside switching sides. Our starting right winger just hasn’t put it together yet but he sure can sell a foul!
Also Agree that the subbing was baffling and I would have preferred that Saba stayed on the field. If you want Brennan on the field (which I do) switch Saba to the right drop Miggy into the 10 and Mirachuk into the 8. Its not like we were threatening counter attacks all game. Plus the whole game slowed down anyway.
Maybe the centerback subbing was a protest from Delia? (I enjoy conspiratorial speculation)
I also Disagree. I’m glad Delia spoke up and got a red card. That was a sh!teshow at the end. The ref lost control of the match and seemed generally OK with that. I think you should receive a straight red if you don’t get off the field under 1 minute, if you are being subbed off. If you just got a red card yourself and you don’t immediately go to the sideline then your team should incur a red card and have to take another player off the field. (you can protest from the sideline while the play is under review) Wasting time like that just ruins the integrity of the game.
Also, Hernandez and Lennon, know when you are beat, accept it and trust your teammates to cover your hindquarters.
Considering our poor depth at our back line, can we just recall Cobb from his loan? I know you recall recall your loaned out players, but can you do it for ones that have a buy option?
I don’t think we have the roster slots. Plus we already signed another CB. But most importantly, the season is lost anyways, so does it really matter? Let Cobb be free and enjoy life under a competent regime.
.
Berrocal still haven’t gotten his visa, so who knows when he will be available. I do find it interesting that Miami was able to get de Paul his visa so quickly. Also just having Berrocal means we currently have just 4 CBs, of which, Gregersen is coming back from an injury and who knows if Williams is even health to play on Wednesday. Crazy to think we finished the match yesterday with 0 CBs on the field.