Ronny Deila insisted he didn’t really feel his job at Atlanta United was beneath risk regardless of the 5 Stripes failing to win their final 10 MLS matches.
Deila has endured an detached tenure since being appointed final December, profitable simply 5 of the 29 matches he has overseen throughout all competitions (D10 L14).
Atlanta’s latest run of kind has seen them drop to thirteenth within the Jap Convention, 17 factors adrift of the playoffs with eight video games of their season remaining.
Given his facet’s kind, Deila’s future on the membership has been referred to as into query, although the previous Celtic boss believes his facet are near reaching their potential.
“It’s all the time like that,” Deila stated. “You all the time wish to win the video games and that’s my job. I perceive that, however on the similar time I’ve been on this enterprise for 20 years.
“I don’t concentrate on the wins and the outcomes, I concentrate on how we’re going to win. I’ve been on this scenario earlier than with many golf equipment which have been in pressured conditions.
“However you could go on the market and make the most effective out of it. Each participant, us as a crew as effectively, if we try this then we give ourselves the most effective likelihood to attempt to do one thing.
“What I can say is that we’re enhancing. We’re a greater crew than what we had been 4 months in the past. It’s simply small particulars now earlier than we’re going to click on collectively.”
Closing. pic.twitter.com/RCv0XBvMYA
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) August 17, 2025
Deila will probably be hoping to get a much-needed outcome this weekend once they welcome Toronto FC to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with their opponents one place above them.
Toronto themselves have endured a troublesome patch of late, going 4 video games with out a win, however have picked up factors in opposition to high-flyers Columbus Crew and Philadelphia Union.
And whereas Atlanta’s present predicament gives an opportunity for Toronto to get again to profitable methods, head coach Robin Fraser was not underestimating Deila’s crew.
“Groups undergo phases like this,” Fraser stated. “I take into consideration us right here in 2018, a lot of good gamers however issues don’t go proper. Quite a lot of accidents, they lose kind and confidence.
“On the finish of the day, we all know they’re a really gifted crew. I stated this final time, issues simply occurred actually rapidly, however we hope that they don’t begin clicking this week.
“As a result of once they do, they’ve greater than sufficient expertise to be on the high of the desk versus the place they’re. I don’t have a look at this as a straightforward recreation. No likelihood.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Atlanta United – Alexey Miranchuk
Miranchuk has scored every of Atlanta’s final three MLS objectives, together with the lone tally in a 3-1 defeat at Colorado on Saturday.
He’s the one 5 Stripes participant to attain a regular-season aim since Tristan Muyumba and Emmanuel Latte Lath on July 19.
Toronto FC – Jules-Anthony Vilsaint
Vilsaint endeared himself to the Toronto trustworthy after he got here off the bench to attain the equalising aim in his first profession look for the membership final week.
He’s the primary participant to attain on his Reds’ MLS debut since CJ Sapong in 2023 whereas the final participant to attain in his first two Toronto appearances was Luke Moore in 2014.
MATCH PREDICTION: ATLANTA UNITED WIN
The 5 Stripes have by no means misplaced a regular-season residence match in opposition to Toronto (W4 D4). The Reds gained their lone playoff go to to Atlanta, nevertheless, posting a 2-1 win within the 2019 Jap Convention Closing.
Atlanta are, nevertheless, winless in 10 straight regular-season matches (D5 L5) relationship again to late Might, the second time in membership historical past the 5 Stripes have recorded a double-digit winless run in league play (12 straight in 2021).
Toronto, in the meantime, have proven their powers of restoration, coming from behind to earn some extent in every of their final two matches, doing so in opposition to Columbus and Philadelphia. They’d totalled simply two factors from the 15 matches wherein they trailed this season previous to that.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Atlanta United – 50.6%
Draw – 25%
Toronto FC – 24.4%