Atlanta United head coach Ronny Deila has urged his team to be more aggressive and physical to win matches.

Deila’s side sit 13th in the Eastern Conference and are 10 points off the playoff spots after a run of just two wins in 14 matches.

Their goalless draw with D.C. United last time out was the third time in four games that they failed to find the back of the net.

Deila wants to see more aggression and desire to win on the pitch, and believes new signing Enea Mihaj can also help with that.

“In an ideal world, we want a physical team,” Deila said ahead of this weekend's clash with fellow strugglers Toronto FC. “[We] want a team that has hard legs.

“We [should be] very pressing very active in everything and drive up the tempo in the game. We are not there now, we have to think a little differently now that we don't have a long way [until the season ends].

“That [comes] through developing players and, of course, also adding the right players to make that look even more clear.

“[Mihaj is] a leader, a fighter, very good defensively, trustworthy. He's done really well in a good club in Portugal.

“[He's] in prime age, 26 years old. That's when you're hungry, and he has ambitions to improve and to do something with us, and that's what we're looking for.

“I think we can be more aggressive in wanting to achieve something and to put demands around [ourselves. That is something clear we really need to do better.”

Toronto sit one point and one place below Atlanta in the East.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Toronto FC – Theo Corbeanu

Toronto have struggled in front of goal this season, but 23-year-old Corbeanu has offered some end product.

He has scored four times in MLS, and with the departure of Federico Bernardeschi (four goals), the only Toronto player with more than two goals on the roster is Corbeanu.

Each of Toronto’s last two goals have been own goals, and they have now benefited from three of them this season. 

Atlanta United – Emmanuel Latte Lath

Atlanta's most productive player in attack has been Latte Lath, who has scored on five occasions, including three match-opening goals.

However, the striker has not managed to score since March 29, a 4-3 win over New York City FC, so Atlanta could do with that drought ending.

MATCH PREDICTION – Draw

Hosts Toronto will seek to address a poor run of results on home soil this season with three draws, seven losses, and just two wins in 12 MLS contests.

However, Atlanta are still looking for their first away win this year after seven losses and three draws on the road.

Atlanta have won only one of their seven visits to Toronto, a 2-0 victory in October 2021. Toronto have recorded four wins and two draws in those matches.

And Atlanta’s away winless run in all competitions has now reached 11 matches. The Five Stripes have failed to score in seven of those 11 matches, totalling only five goals in that span.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Toronto FC – 38.7%

Draw – 26.5%

Atlanta United – 34.8%