Things have gone from bad to worse for Atlanta United.
Despite spending upwards of $30 million to bring in striker Emmanuel Latte-Lath and former superstar Miguel Almiron ahead of the 2025 campaign, the season has quickly fallen off the rails.
In Saturday’s Matchday 9 clash with the Philadelphia Union, the club sputtered once again, falling 3–0 in a demoralizing effort, with goals from Quinn Sullivan, Danley Jean Jacques and Tai Baribo.
Meanwhile, Atlanta mustered just 0.86 xG on 12 shots, only three of which hit the target.
Heading into the match, Atlanta United had already reached a club-worst start to a season, and the issues have crept up nearly everywhere in the squad, from poor service to Latte-Lath, to injuries and new head coach Ronny Deila’s team selection, among others.
Now, they sit 12th in the Eastern Conference on nine points, with hopes of an MLS Cup Playoff berth slipping before the campaign reaches its one-third mark.
“I think we lose the ball too much in difficult situations, easy situations,” Deila said post-match. “We are underperforming as a team and also individually, so that's something I have to myself in the mirror, take responsibility for.”
“Too many [players] were not at the level they can be. We have to stop there and get the confidence and get together and build each other up, because we can be hard on each other.”
Against Philadelphia, Deila opted to start Almiron on the right wing, with Jay Fortune on the left, while sitting Saba Lobjanidze, who had previously been one of the club’s more consistent contributors in transition, even as the team struggled to create attacking opportunities.
