Atlanta United 2024 MLS season preview: Tactics, predicted XI, predictions

Atlanta United are set to embark on a highly-anticipated 2024 Major League Soccer season.

There's heightened expectations this time around for the 2018 MLS Cup winners, as CEO and president Garth Lagerway, alongside technical director Carlos Bocanegra, have worked tirelessly through the transfer window to bring in players ready to make an immediate impact while clearing out players no longer needed at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Head coach Gonzalo Pineda guided the Eastern Conference side to a sixth place finish and a return to the postseason after missing out in 2022. But there will be even more pressure on the former Seattle Sounders player to at least finish in the top four and mount a serious push for silverware.

Here's everything you need to know about Atlanta United ahead of the new MLS season, including tactics, key players, and predictions.

How did Atlanta United perform in 2023?

• Regular season: Sixth in Eastern Conference
• MLS Cup Playoffs: First round
• US Open Cup: Third round

Atlanta United transfer activity

Transfers in

Transfers out

Gonzalo Pineda: Tactics and style of play

Pineda is set to take the touchline for his third full season in charge of Atlanta, as he's guided the team to two playoff appearances since being appointed in August 2021.

In seasons past, Pineda liked to set his side up in a 4-3-3 with Almada playing in a more creative role to spearhead the attack. But Pineda opted to utilize a 4-2-3-1 formation in 2023, which was supposed to help crack down on the team conceding so many goals, but in reality, that never really happened.

Pineda's side looked more fluid in the new system when compared to the old, but the drop-off in defensive play saw him switch to a three-at-the-back during the summer, which brought limited success. He reverted back to the 4-2-3-1 in August after their Leagues Cup exit, and the current setup helped them go on a streaking run near the end of the regular season to finish in sixth place in the Eastern Conference thanks in part to Giorgos Giakoumakis' 17 goals in his debut season.

In 2023, Atlanta still looked to control the pace and tempo of games by dominating possession, as they averaged 55.4% possession during the regular season, the third-most by any MLS side. With Tristan Muyumba returning to the middle of the park alongside new signing Bartosz Slisz, you can expect Atlanta to continue to have the lion's share of possession during games in 2024.

Although Guzan is critical to how Atlanta plays out from the back by baiting other teams into pressing them, his shot-stopping abilities have taken a nosedive and have harmed more than helped. In steps Josh Cohen, a free agent goalkeeper who's in the prime of his career and will look to replicate what Guzan did to help kickstart attacks.

While Pineda will look for his side to continue to be methodical and wait for passing lanes and space to open up, his team still remains dangerous in transition on the offensive end with the pace they have, while also needing to be careful on the backend with the high line that's deployed.

Atlanta United predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Cohen; Lennon, Gregersen, Abram, Wiley; Muyumba, Slisz; Lobjanidze, Almada, Silva; Giakoumakis.

Who is Atlanta United's key player?

Thiago Almada

Sometimes players slow down after enjoying a solid rookie season or a first season with a new club, but a sophomore slump doesn't apply to Thiago Almada, one of the best players in MLS.

Almada, who was part of Argentina's 2022 World Cup winning squad, led all players in assists last term with 19 while also bagging 11 goals that included astonishing three free-kick goals. The young creative midfielder is integral to Atlanta's success, whether he's staying in a more advanced area on the field or dropping deep to help dictate play up the field.

When Almada is on form, the Five Stripes usually are, too. But his stellar performances haven't gone under the radar, as European giants Ajax and Atletico Madrid have taken an interest in the former Velez Sarsfield player -but he's now set to stay until the summer window opens after the January transfer window closed.

Almada is set to wreak havoc on MLS defenses once again, at least for the early portion of the campaign with a summer transfer to Europe looking like a legitimate possibilty.

Atlanta United 2024 season prediction

It's fair to say that Atlanta's rebuild is just about complete, and there will be pressure on Pineda to deliver the results after the front office have constructed the most complete team the Five Stripes' supporters have seen since 2018.

There remains question marks about how the defense will gel during the first several games, especially with new signing Stian Gregersen adapting to a new league, while Josh Cohen looks to take the starting goalkeeper job from club legend Guzan.

Barring any huge injuries, Atlanta should be a lock to make the playoffs for a second consecutive season - even with an Almada departure during the summer - and the Five Stripes should aim to finish in the top four and challenge for MLS Cup as well as Leagues Cup and US Open Cup.

Will Atlanta United qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs? Yes

READ 90MIN'S SEASON PREVIEWS FOR MLS TEAMS AHEAD OF THE 2024 SEASON