Atlanta United almost at full strength for first time in weeks

For the first time since the first week of preseason, Atlanta United will be almost completely healthy for Saturday’s match against Dallas at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Winger Edwin Mosquera is the only one of the regular first-teamers who will miss Saturday’s match. The team hasn’t been this healthy since the opening of the preseason, when fullback Brooks Lennon (shoulder) was the only absence.

Manager Ronny Deila said fullback Pedro Amador (quad), who missed last week’s match and wasn’t seen at training on Thursday, could be available, as will striker Jamal Thiare (quad), and midfielders Tristan Muyumba (knee) and Bartosz Slisz (knee). That trio trained on Thursday.

The team will likely also have a sort-of new face: Dominik Chong Qui. Deila said the team “has to take action” with Chong Qui, who had reached the maximum four call-ups allowed by MLS in last week’s 4-3 win against NYCFC.

It is probable that Chong Qui will be signed as a Homegrown to the first team before Saturday. He was going to be a Homegrown in 2026. To sign Chong Qui, the team will have to either loan out or release a player. Adyn Torres and Ashton Gordon are the likely candidates to be sent on a season-long loan to Atlanta United 2.

Thursday not-so-fun day. The past few weeks, Deila has taken a softer approach to Thursday’s training sessions in order to try to ensure the players would be fresher for Saturday’s match.

He said he believed the approach worked. The team rallied to tie Cincinnati 2-2, and rallied from two goals behind to defeat NYCFC.

Thursday’s session for Dallas was more serious, Lennon said. Deila said that was by design.

“It looks very sharp and very good,” he said.

Deila said that he and David Tenney, hired as the team’s director of high performance in the offseason, are constantly communicating about how to ensure the team is as fresh as possible.

“I think we’re getting closer and closer,” Deila said.

Saba Lobjanidze’s position. Deila was noncommittal if Saba Lobjanidze will start on the left wing or right wing Saturday.

Lobjanidze has been responsible for forcing two own goals in each of the past two matches after he was moved from the left to the right. After NYCFC, Deila said that Lobjanidze appears a more productive player on the right.

“Opportunities to do both; it’s good,” Deila said. “We also have an opportunity to play Miggy (Almiron) in the 10 (attacking midfielder). So we’ll see what the game will bring.”

Moving Almiron to the “10,” would mean moving Alexey Miranchuk deeper in the midfielder. Deila made that move in the past two matches.

Deila said on Thursday he would have no problem playing Miranchuk anywhere, even at centerback.

“He can play every position he wants, because he’s a top football player,” Deila said. “I think he’s better in the central positions, but we need him centrally in the pitch. He’s the one that, he and Miggy, when those two get the ball, the whole team is breathing, everybody’s breathing, and that’s good.”

When Miranchuk plays as the attacking midfielder, and Almiron as the right-winger, they have tended to get into each other’s way because Almiron would drift inside toward Miranchuk. Deila said it became easy for opponents to mark them.

Moving Miranchuk deeper, and Almiron centrally, opened play against NYCFC. Almiron scored his first goal.

“It’s about developing our play from behind,” Deila said. “We worked on that today. This is a step in the development, and I know we’re going to get there.”

MLS documentary. To celebrate its 30th year, MLS released a documentary on Thursday, titled “MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER: 30 Years in the Making.” The documentary can be watched on the MLS season pass on Apple TV.

For more content about Atlanta United

Follow me on Twitter/X @DougRobersonAJC

On Bluesky @dougrobersonajc.bsky.social

On Facebook at Atlanta United News Now

On Instagram at DouglasDavidRoberson

Atlanta United coverage on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Stay up to date every day on breaking news, in-depth investigations, politics, sports, entertainment, food and dining and so much more by becoming a subscriber to the AJC. Go to AJC.com/start for a very special offer and unlock hundreds of original articles published daily on the refreshed AJC.com and the new AJC mobile app. Plus, access to our news alerts, subscriber-only events, AJC original shows, films and videos, newsletters, and so much more.

Atlanta United’s 2025 schedule

Feb. 22 Atlanta United 3, Montreal 2

March 1 Charlotte 2, Atlanta United 0

March 8 Atlanta United 0, New York Red Bulls 0

March 16 Miami 2, Atlanta United 1

March 22 Atlanta United 2, Cincinnati 2

March 29 Atlanta United 4, NYCFC 3

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