Things to watch in Atlanta United’s training camp

An eventful offseason for Atlanta United that included hiring Chris Henderson as director of soccer operations and Ronny Deila as manager will cross a bridge into training camp with many questions still unanswered.

The team has two Designated Player slots open. It needs at least one more fullback. Because of Brooks Lennon’s shoulder injury, there will be a competition at right fullback. Who will start in central midfield? Could there be a surprise at centerback?

All of those questions need to be answered before the team opens its ninth season Feb. 22 against Montreal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium with the priority of a top-four finish in the Eastern Conference.

Let’s get into the things to watch before the season starts.

How will players react to Deila. The Norwegian is the team’s eighth manager, counting interims, since the inaugural 2017 season.

That’s a lot.

President Garth Lagerwey’s consistent messaging about all hires and signings has focused on wanting people who want to be in Atlanta. That may have been a subtle message to everyone that Deila isn’t going anywhere, so listen and try.

Deila has said that if he doesn’t see improvement, he tends to get bored, and those who aren’t improving aren’t going to play.

So, it would seem likely that there’s going to be lots of energy in training camp. The team’s depth will determine how long that energy can be sustained.

Deila wants to run a 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 formation, but the team also will work on principles when using three centerbacks. He said the team’s defensive unity, particularly under interim manager Rob Valentino last season, was very good. He wants to work on improving attacking patterns and instincts when the team loses the ball.

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DP slots. Lagerwey said he and Henderson are working very hard to sign a striker to lead the line. They reportedly are interested in either Middlesborough’s Emmanuel Latte Lath or Crystal Palace’s Odsonne Edouard, who is on loan at Leicester. They are the top two targets, and the team doesn’t want to drag out a negotiation too long.

Lagerwey said the other DP may be either a winger or a central midfielder to pair with Alexey Miranchuk. Lagerwey said they are looking for players who can work with Miranchuk to give him options in attack. That tactic worked well in last year’s playoffs, helping Atlanta United shock Inter Miami in a best-of-three series.

The other strikers are Jamal Thiare, who scored eight goals last season, and Cayman Togashi, who signed last week on a free transfer.

Fullbacks. There are the two fullbacks, one player who is going to try out at right fullback, and one left fullback on the roster.

Lennon’s injury, which will sideline him for all of training camp, opens competition for Ronald Hernandez and Noah Cobb, who is moving from centerback to work out at the position. Matthew Edwards, who signed a Homegrown contract last season, also will compete.

Pedro Amador became the starter on the left after Caleb Wiley was sold to Chelsea last summer. Amador proved invaluable, with four assists in nine appearances in the regular season and four more in five playoff matches. But he has no backup.

In Deila’s back four, the fullbacks will run a lot up the wings. There must be established depth.

Centerback. Moving to the interior of the back line, Stian Gregersen and Derrick Williams likely will be the starters in a back four, with Luis Abram as the third choice in a back five.

If Cobb doesn’t win the starter’s job at right fullback, or after Lennon returns, he could push Abram or Williams to start. Efrain Morales, like Cobb a Homegrown signee, also could push for time. Cobb made 19 appearances with 16 starts last season. Morales made four appearances with three starts.

The team may want to give Cobb and Morales every chance because players are assets, and Cobb and Morales have a higher potential transfer value than do Williams and Abram. But that value can’t be realized if they don’t get meaningful minutes. Of course, that’s not to mean they would play just to try to realize that value. They would play because they are good. Cobb has shown that he can be a starter in MLS. Morales showed a grit and aggressiveness, particularly at D.C. United, that the team sometimes lacked last season. Morales has an option year on his contract for 2026. Cobb’s last year is 2026 with an option for 2027. Williams and Abram are in the last full year on their contracts, with options for 2026.

Central midfield. This may be the most intriguing competition during preseason.

Jay Fortune, Tristan Muyumba, Bartosz Slisz, Mateusz Klich, and new Homegrown signees Adyn Torres and Will Reilly, will compete. The wild card is whether Atlanta United signs a second DP and if that player is a midfielder.

Muyumba was a preferred starter under previous manager Gonzalo Pineda. Fortune became the starter by season’s end. They likely will compete for one of the two slots in central midfield. Slisz was the first choice under both.

They will be tasked with doing the work that will allow Miranchuk to focus on attacking and passing.

Deila wants to see energy, and he wants to see aggressiveness, particularly when the team presses.

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Atlanta United’s 2025 schedule

Feb. 22 vs. Montreal, 7:30 p.m., Apple

March 1 at Charlotte, 2 p.m., Apple, Fox

March 8 vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m., Apple

March 16 vs. Miami, 7 p.m., Apple

March 22 at Cincinnati, 2:30 p.m., Apple

March 29 vs. NYCFC, 7:30 p.m., Apple

April 5 vs. Dallas, 7:30 p.m., Apple

April 12 vs. New England, 2:30 p.m., Apple, FOX

April 19 at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m., Apple

April 26 at Orlando, 7 p.m., Apple, FOX

May 3 vs. Nashville, 2:30 p.m., Apple, FOX