Atlanta United's Winless Start Tests Martino's Patience and Long-Term Vision

Days before Atlanta United's 2026 MLS season opener, manager Tata Martino sat in a conference room at the club's training ground, pondering why experts weren't sold on his squad. "What's the rationale regarding this idea about the team?" he asked. From the outside, questions swirled about Atlanta's overall talent and whether designated players Miguel Almirón, Aleksei Miranchuk, and Emmanuel Latte Lath could coexist. The midfield needed an upgrade in character, and the back line, which already lacked speed, remained a work in progress.

"It's an interesting challenge," Martino remarked after hearing how MLS experts felt about Atlanta's potential in his first year back since leading the team to a 2018 MLS Cup win. "It's clear that continuity gives (other clubs) an advantage. We're just starting to build something here, but I think we're going to compete. I also agree that we're not the favorites."

A Historic Poor Start

Three weeks into the season, Atlanta United finds itself winless with an 0-3-0 record - the first such start in the club's 10-year existence. The losses have come against FC Cincinnati (2-0), San Jose Earthquakes (2-0), and most recently, a 3-2 home defeat to a Real Salt Lake side missing several key starters.

The performances have offered a mixed bag of conclusions. Against Cincinnati, Atlanta was tactically sound and physical but conceded late goals in the 80th and 90th minutes. A lethargic performance against San Jose resulted in another 2-0 loss. The home opener against Real Salt Lake showed significant improvement in attack with Miranchuk scoring twice, but defensive frailty remained the team's Achilles' heel.

Strategic Alignment Despite Results

Chief soccer officer Chris Henderson, who traveled with the team throughout preseason and previously worked with Martino at Inter Miami, emphasized the strategic alignment between the front office and coaching staff. "I would say it's in a growth period where we're trying to make improvements into the team," Henderson said. "I can see the level has increased just playing under (Martino) — confidence, understanding of the roles, clarity, identity. The mood of the team is good. It's optimistic."

Henderson noted that up to seven players from the 2025 roster had improved under Martino but hinted that 2026 would be a gradual process toward rebuilding a winning culture. He drew parallels between Martino and late MLS coaching legend Sigi Schmid: "Neither of them were really surprised by anything. Tata processes something, thinks about it, and comes with a steady decision. That winning drive is contagious throughout the club."

Martino's Philosophy: Process Over Panic

Following the defeat to Real Salt Lake, Martino pledged to protect his players and resist making kneejerk changes. "Swapping players in and out after a string of losses is 'like sacrificing the players who get changed,'" he said. "Eventually, there's going to come a point where we'll run out of players to put in, because we have to change them constantly."

Martino addressed the health of the club and reiterated that there is a well-thought-out plan in place that the coaching staff and front office agree upon. "We have no doubt about where we're going," he said. "We may have differences when it comes to timing, but where we're headed, there are no doubts there."

The manager emphasized that when things don't start as planned, permanently changing the direction of the team is ill-advised. "When these moments happen, what you cannot doubt is the project," Martino said. "Precisely so that what I mentioned before doesn't happen to us: that the season slips away in June and the year is already lost."

Captain Almirón's Perspective

Almirón, now the team's captain, echoed Martino's measured approach. "Personally, I always like to work in silence, with humility and sacrifice," he told The Athletic days before the first game of the season. "I think it's also good that people aren't talking too much about us. We're calm, we're working. The first objective is to qualify for the playoffs — game by game."

Before the game against Cincinnati, Almirón described the feeling around the team as "professional." "I believe in the ideas of the coaching staff," he added. "That page (from last season) has to be turned. The positive thing is that Tata is back, there are good players in the group, and we're working well — but we can only prove it with results on the field."

Learning from Miami's Success

Martino pointed to his experience at Inter Miami as a blueprint for Atlanta's revival. After Lionel Messi's arrival, Henderson and Martino successfully deconstructed and rebuilt a squad that had finished near the bottom of the Eastern Conference in 2023. Inter Miami went on to win the Supporters' Shield in 2024 and MLS Cup in 2025.

"The vision for Atlanta United's return to glory, according to Martino, will carry on with or without him," the article notes. He referenced Inter Miami winning MLS Cup in 2025 after he instilled a winning identity before departing - a process that took two transfer windows to reach that pinnacle.

Addressing Fan Impatience

The lingering effects of the failed Gonzalo Pineda and Ronny Deila eras have scarred the psyches of Atlanta's fanbase. Martino's return was mostly celebrated in Atlanta but also rebuked as a desperate attempt to rekindle past success.

Martino acknowledged the challenges, telling reporters that his game model takes time to implement. It's dependent on training time, the right players, and reducing mistakes. "I'm not going to choose another way of playing," Martino said last week. "We are going to play this way."

As the pressure mounts with each loss, Martino offered a sobering reminder: "You all know there is no long term if there are no results." Yet he remains committed to the process, believing that the foundation he and Henderson are laying could outlast his second tenure in Atlanta.