Deila: Atlanta must be bold to succeed in long-term MLS project

Deila took charge of his first game since being appointed as the Five Stripes' new head coach in December on Sunday, a friendly which ended in a 2-1 defeat to Chattanooga FC.

Atlanta started the 2024 campaign with just four wins from their first 16 matches, resulting in Gonzalo Pineda being relieved of his duties back in June.

Rob Valentino was placed in interim charge for the remainder of the season, guiding the club to a ninth-placed finish in the Eastern Conference and a place in the playoffs.

The Five Stripes stunned Lionel Messi's Inter Miami in their best-of-three series in the opening round but were beaten in the semi-finals by Orlando City.

But having worked with the players for over a month since his arrival at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Deila highlighted the areas he intends to improve during his time at the helm.

"I think we play too much backwards. It's always safe, safe, safe, safe, so I get bored watching it," said Deila.

"But at the same time, it's a start. I knew it also. I’d seen it in training, I’d seen it since last year. So we need to work on [going] forward, breaking lines, playing forward.

"I don't worry about anything. I know where we're going to go. And I painted that picture for 14 days and I needed time to get that into everybody."

A new era – get on board. #ATLUTD hires Ronny Deila as Head Coach pic.twitter.com/OMjIisUByk

— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) December 20, 2024

Deila arrives back in the MLS following three years away with Standard Liege, Club Brugge and Al-Wahda, having last taken charge of New York City FC in America.

During his tenure with the Pigeons, he led them to the MLS Cup title in 2021 while also beating the Philadelphia Union in the Eastern Conference final.

He won 46 of his 90 games in charge of NYCFC, averaging a win percentage of 51.11%. Only at Brugge (57.14%), Brodd (58.33%) and Celtic (64.41%) has he won more matches.

Having already experienced success in the MLS, Deila insisted that Atlanta have all the right ingredients, on and off the pitch, to challenge for trophies this term.

"When I was here with New York City [FC], I saw what kind of support the club has. So the facilities, the stadium, the training center here, you have everything," Deila said.

"It is a fantastic big club and a good club. You have everything to succeed, to develop.

"Everybody agrees that this club is a club that needs to fight for trophies and constantly be up at the top of MLS."

The Five Stripes continued their preseason preparations with a clash against Birmingham Legion FC, before taking on fellow MLS outfits New England Revolution, FC Cincinnati and FC Dallas.