Arthur Blank on 2025 season: "We picked the wrong coach."

Atlanta United owner Arthur Blank came clean with mistakes made and why Tata Martino can be different.

As part of Arthur Blank’s media tour today discussing the Falcons’ recent shakeup, Atlanta United’s team owner spoke to our favorite play-by-play man Mike Conti, where Blank shared some thoughts about last year’s disastrous season.

“The most obvious [error] is that we didn’t pick the right coach,” Blank said in an exclusive interview with Conti on ¹92.9 The Game. “I say that and don’t mean it in a mean way or whatever, but there clearly wasn’t a match between the players and coach and style of play.”

No kidding. To be fair to Deila, he saw his task as being one to ruffle some feathers and build some scar tissue for a team that had long been sufficient of technical talent but deficient in dawg. You know… “to make an omlette, you must crush some eggs,” as the Norwegian manager often quipped. But the scar tissue never formed, leaving a bloody mess. Okay let’s move on.

“We brought back a coach we know who relates well to players,” Blank said of returning Head Coach Tata Martino. “He’s had a great history in Atlanta and beyond in Mexico and in Miami. We’ll continue to churn the roster to work on it.”

The phrase “relates well to players” is interesting to me. And yes, I know I’m now reading into canned cliches. But it does feel like there was an odd note Deila struck with the locker room and his messages beyond it. In his press conferences, Deila gambled with some stern criticisms of his own players that may have blown back at him. And it’s worth noting that this is not a "players’ coach'“ distinction. Tata Martino pushes his teams hard, and he’s not the most agreeable person himself. But he does seem to earn their respect.

“Our fans know we’re also interviewing for a President of Soccer,” Blank added. “That’ll be someone at a very high level who will oversee both Atlanta United and our new team in NWSL.”

NOTE: Do not get confused between the purposes each of the two Presidents of Sport. On the football side, they are looking for someone as a visionary, culture setter, advisor, etc. The President of Soccer, however, will likely be someone much more business savvy. I expect each team to have it’s own “GM” making the transfers and transactions just like Chris Henderson now, with both reporting to the president. That president is positioned to supply the teams with resources, project management (lots of new building to take place for NWSL 28), etc to keep the ball moving.

1. (I’m a company man)