Training Ground Notebook: Winning the Duels That Matter

Atlanta United trained Thursday with clarity about what comes next. The ideas are no longer allowed to live in preseason theory. They must show up in real matches, starting Saturday afternoon in Cincinnati.

After the session, Tata Martino and Latte Lath spoke with a tone that suggested this group understands both what it is now and what it must become over the course of a long season. The themes that surfaced were consistent: structure, pressing, emotional endurance, and the understanding that competing means sustaining performance from February through December.

The Idea Is Translating

When asked about the progress made during preseason, Tata kept returning to one central point:

“What we’re doing in training is being reflected into what we’re seeing.”

That comment carries weight. It signals that this group has moved beyond absorbing information. The principles are no longer classroom concepts; they are showing up in execution. The physical base has been built through heavy sessions and double days. The tactical framework has been drilled. The only element missing now is competition that counts in the standings.

Latte Lath framed it from the players’ side. He described preseason as a search for identity and emphasized the need to “be brave.” That bravery, in his view, means more than emotional tone. It means committing to the press, moving without fixed references in the attacking line, and pushing forward without hesitation. It also means resetting mentally from last season rather than carrying its weight into this one.

The identity is not mysterious. It is visible in the way the team trains.

The Press as an Attacking Mechanism

One of the most revealing comments came when Latte described how he views pressing.

“I kind of like pressing because it gives me more opportunity… to finish close to the goal.”

Latte Lath in Thursday's training session

That statement reframes the system. Pressing under Tata is not aesthetic. It is not about running to prove effort. It is a chance-creation tool. Regain possession high, attack before the opponent reorganizes, and put the striker in scoring situations.

Tata’s description of Latte reinforces that intention. He called him a physical center forward who can finish with both feet and said he is excited about the form he is in. The pieces connect clearly: a striker comfortable pressing, attackers free to interchange, and a defensive structure positioned behind them to allow that aggression.

The freedom up front is intentional. It is layered over discipline. Latte spoke about not giving defenders a reference point and about interchange with Miguel and Alexei. That fluidity works because it is anchored by a team that understands where it must be when the ball is lost.

Structure Behind the Freedom

Tata has been consistent about balance since he arrived: organized without the ball, expressive with it. On Thursday, he reiterated that he is satisfied with what he has seen defensively and pointed to Tomás Jacob’s role in midfield as reinforcing that stability.

Rondos early in Thursday's training session

The blueprint is straightforward but demanding. Stay compact when defending. Reorganize immediately when possession turns over. Then press aggressively to win it back in advanced areas. Once possession is secured, allow attacking players the freedom to interchange and create.

That freedom only functions if the structure holds behind it. So far, Tata believes it has. The next step is seeing whether it withstands real pressure on the road.

Competing for Ten Months

The most important theme may not be tactical at all.

Tata framed competing not as starting well, but as sustaining performance for an entire season. Competing means beginning in February and finishing in December. It means responding quickly to defeats instead of allowing them to spiral. It means avoiding the stretches that derail seasons by midyear.

That is a cultural recalibration as much as a strategic one.

He also connected that endurance to shared leadership. Miguel Almirón remains the captain, but the responsibilities around him are more distributed. The objective is clear: emotional endurance cannot sit on one set of shoulders. If Atlanta is going to compete for ten months, that burden must be collective.

Endurance is collective.

The Cincinnati Test

Saturday provides the first real examination.

Tata outlined three priorities: match Cincinnati’s intensity, neutralize Evander, and win the individual duels created by their aggressive back five. Against a 3-5-2 that defends forward rather than sitting deep, Atlanta should expect one-on-one battles across the attacking line.

That means pressing triggers must be coordinated. It means attackers must win their matchups. It means the defensive structure must remain intact when possession flips quickly.

The tactical concepts practiced all winter will be tested immediately in those moments.

Latte’s Personal Reset

There was also a quieter but important subplot.

Latte acknowledged that last season did not unfold the way he wanted. He emphasized that this year is important, but without placing unnecessary pressure on himself. That balance is notable. Tata says he is excited about Latte’s form. Latte says he feels physically prepared after a demanding preseason and strong offseason work.

That combination suggests a striker operating from readiness rather than urgency. And in a system built on pressing and quick transitions, confidence matters.

The Notebook Takeaway

Miguel Almirón was announced as captain by Tata Martino ahead of Saturday's season opener

Thursday’s session did not introduce new ideas. It confirmed existing ones. The identity is clearer. The physical work has been completed. The defensive structure appears more stable. The attacking freedom is intentional rather than chaotic. The season is being framed as a ten-month commitment instead of a sprint.

Training has provided the blueprint.

Saturday will reveal whether it holds.

2026 begins in Cincinnati.