MLS
Why did Atlanta United fire Gonzalo Pineda just days after Inter Miami win?
The Five Stripes have parted ways with the Mexican head coach after a poor start to 2024 leaves the team mired in 13th in the East.
Atlanta United have parted company with Gonzalo Pineda, the Mexican head coach who took charge of the team in his first managerial back role in 2021.
Pineda’s side had recently put in a stunning road performance against Inter Miami, beating the Eastern Conference leaders 3-1, but that win was their only victory in the past 11 games. Over the course of that spell the team had dropped to 13th in the East, 24th overall in MLS, and was slipping further from the playoff picture. After Pineda’s departure assistant coach Rob Valentino will take over on an interim basis.
“We are grateful to Gonzalo for his commitment and dedication to the club over the last four seasons,” club president Garth Lagerwey said. “We made this decision in an effort to move the team in a new direction. As we continue to evaluate all aspects of our sporting operation, Rob will have our full support to turn our season around in the second half.”
Pineda sacked despite statement win over Inter Miami
The only bright spot in a gloomy 2024 for Atlanta was last week’s victory over Inter Miami, where Pineda’s team thoroughly outplayed the table-topping Herons. The Five Stripes were back to their 2023 best at Chase Stadium, with a starring performance from Thiago Almada in midfield.
The Argentinian No. 10 has not found his best form this season, not helped by niggling injuries, but he lived up to his billing in Miami. Designated Player forward Saba Lobzhanidze was also impressive, contributing two outstanding long-range goals.
Atlanta recorded 25 shots against Inter Miami, more than twice as many as the hosts, consistently exploiting space in transition with sharp counter-attacks.
However those performances have been few and far between for Pineda this season. One of the league’s most talented and expensively-assembled rosters has looked devoid of a cohesive style for much of the year and rumours of Pineda’s impending exit had been swirling in recent weeks.
He will argue that he was hamstrung by injuries to 2023 top scorer Georgios Giakoumakis, who has started just 50% of the MLS games this season. Nevertheless Atlanta have been performing far below the level that their quality would suggest and a change of course became increasingly likely for this ambitious young club.