Atlanta United is away from the 404 for more preseason training in Bradenton, Fla. The 5-Stripes are just over two weeks away from their home opener against CF Montréal, and head coach Ronny Deila’s squad will play three more closed friendlies against MLS opposition before then.
For the players, and especially the new acquisitions, a lot of preseason training camp is about getting used to operating in a different environment than they’re used to. Before traveling to Florida, all they knew this year was Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground, with a brief stop in Flowery Branch, Ga. Now, in the humid heat of Florida, they’re pushing themselves physically to be ready for anything.
Youth and experience alike are putting in the work. Training is the great equalizer. Everyone runs. Look no further than a 28-year-old in Luis Abram and a 19-year-old in Luke Brennan, who spoke to media Thursday about how training is getting Atlanta United into season form:
Growth matters, and quickly too
Just over the course of the first two friendlies of Atlanta United’s preseason, we’ve seen the team make huge strides in understanding the system Deila wants to play. Within that, individuals are figuring out their roles and how they complement their playing styles.
For a defender like Abram, he’s seen that growth in the younger players in his position group. Noah Cobb and Efraín Morales are the next generation of talent at the center back position, and Abram noted improvement even early on in their careers.
“They’re two young players with a lot of talent and they’ve grown a lot over the last couple years,” Abram said. “Both of them are ready when the coach needs them to play.”
Growing that trust from their teammates and coach is what this preseason is about. Cobb and Morales played in both of the first two friendlies, and Cobb played both halves against Birmingham Legion.
Abram cited passing and connectivity as traits that Deila wants from his center backs, all to promote possession and building attacks out of the back. Those defenders growing as distributors could enable the firepower up front even more.
But as the preseason treks on, it’s not just bettering themselves but doing so quickly that matters. Time is of the essence.
“First, to try to instill the way that the coach wants to play, and to try to do that as fast as possible,” Abram said.
And that urgency is why, as many players have pointed out so far, Ronny Deila’s trainings are so intense. Brennan knows this will help with the team’s pressing goals.
“I like the counterpressure a lot because when you win the ball you have the ball more. As an attacker, I want to be on the ball, so when we counterpressure, we get the ball back and then we can rest in position. The fitness is really important. It’s good that we’re in Florida and it’s hot.”
Mentorship as a driving force
Top signings like Miguel Almirón, who began training with the group in Florida, and Emmanuel Latte Lath, who arrived to Atlanta this week, will be must-watch football in and of themselves. But it’s not just their impact on the pitch that will define their time with the club. Their role as mentors to young talent will be just as important as the goal contributions they get for themselves.
Brennan knows his relationship with Almirón will be valuable for his own development. He’s already learned from attackers on the team last year, like Saba Lobjanidze.
“I learned to always be active and always be on the move,” Brennan said. “I saw last year, in little moments when [Saba] was switched on, he could end up scoring just from always being focused.”
Activity has been a calling card of Brennan’s game so far in the regular season. He’s been flying up and down the wings, never wasting a moment and creating goalscoring chances because of it.
With Almirón in the squad, Brennan has so many different great examples of lethal attacking. It’s hard to believe that he’s sharing the field with someone he grew up idolizing.
“I remember looking at him, and I was hoping one day I could become like him,” Brennan said. “I never really thought of us playing together, but it’s really cool. It’s a full circle moment.”
As the mentors and mentees grow, their chemistry will define the season, one where Atlanta United has high expectations.
“As a team, learning relationships is also very important,” Brennan said. “Communication is big, growing as a team. I think we can do something special this year.”
