Ronny Deila is urging his Atlanta United squad to break their streak of draws and start racking up wins as they push for a spot in the playoffs. Currently sitting in 13th place in the Eastern Conference, Atlanta finds themselves 12 points behind Charlotte FC, who hold the final play-in position.
Their next challenge will be facing off against Charlotte, a team that has been on a winning streak. Despite Atlanta’s recent run of draws, they showed resilience in their last game against the Chicago Fire by coming from behind twice.
Deila, the former Celtic and New York City FC coach, recognizes the urgency for Atlanta to start securing victories, especially since their last win was back in May. “We have to start winning if we want to make a playoff push,” he emphasized.
The team’s performance has been a mixed bag, with moments of strong pressing and good play, but also lapses in defense that have cost them. Deila highlighted the need for better ball retention and connection in the attacking third to convert draws into wins.
One player to watch for Atlanta is Will Reilly, who scored his first MLS goal coming off the bench in their last game. Charlotte’s Pep Biel, on the other hand, has been in fine form, scoring twice in their recent win over D.C. United.
As for the match prediction, a draw seems likely given Charlotte’s struggles on the road and Atlanta’s tendency to draw matches recently. However, history shows that none of the seven previous meetings between Atlanta and Charlotte have ended in draws, with Charlotte having the upper hand in wins.
According to Opta win probability, Atlanta United have a 39.7% chance of winning, while Charlotte FC have a 33.7% chance. A draw is predicted to have a 26.6% probability.
Atlanta will need to dig deep and find a way to turn their draws into wins if they want to climb up the standings and secure a playoff spot. The upcoming match against Charlotte will be crucial in determining their fate in the season.
