This is How Messi and Suarez DESTROYING MLS at Inter Miami 😱
Inter Miami mean business this season! In this video, we'll tell you about the main changes in the team, how Leo Messi is leading Inter to titles, and which new star transfers we can expect this summer.
Let's get started!
Big preparation
Last season was both the most successful in Inter's history and one of the worst. The success was undoubtedly due to the arrival of Leo Messi in the middle of the campaign, which was followed by the transfers of Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
Of course, the first trophy in the club's history is also a great achievement. The enchanting Leo immediately delivered the Leagues Cup to his club, and we all remember the hype that surrounded David Beckham's team in the second half of 2023.
But if you look at the bigger picture, Inter had huge problems with their performance and results on the domestic stage. The team finished 14th out of 15 in its Eastern Conference, and even the arrival of Messi did not improve their position. If there was relegation in MLS, then this season the World Champion Leo would be playing in the second division of the US league.
It's obvious that Messi gives your team a huge boost, but the club also need a system: even for top stars to produce results, there needs to be a proper structure built around them.
So after the “Leo Messi” marketing bomb, Inter began to develop the club. And the main task was to work in the transfer market ahead of the 2024 season. First of all, Miami realized that the squad needed to be balanced. Messi, Busquets, Alba, and Suarez, who joined the club in the winter, are all 35+ years old.
Inter should be commended for not overlooking inviting talented youngsters. In addition to Tomas Aviles, Facundo Farias, and Diego Gomez, who joined in the summer of 2023, the team signed a talented holding midfielder Federico Redondo from Argentinos Juniors in the winter.
Inter also parted ways with 4 players aged 30+. These are midfielders Gregore, Mota and Arroyo, as well as right-back and former captain DeAndre Yedlin.
Thus, Inter balanced the number of veterans and young players, and most importantly, reduced the size of the squad. Last season, there were 43 players on the roster, while this season it is 33.
The average age of Inter's squad is 24.7 years old, which is the 6th best in the league among 29 teams. Given that four superstars - Messi, Suarez, Busquets and Alba - have a very strong negative impact on this figure due to their age, Inter's work with youth is impressive.
Tactics
In addition to the transfer market, an important factor in Inter's success this season is that Gerardo Martino was able to prepare the team properly.
It is worth reminding that the Argentinian coach took over Inter in the middle of last season and the team lacked stability. The Herons not only had a huge roster, but also constantly changed formations.
In half of the season, Martino managed to play 4-3-3, 4-4-2, 3-5-2, 3-4-2-1 and their different variations.
This season, the team has been using the same 4-3-3 formation in all MLS matches, with a typical transformation for modern football. If we look at the total number of minutes played this season, Inter's average starting lineup looks like this.
However, given the current football trends, as well as the presence of Leo Messi in the lineup, the team defends in a 4-4-2 formation in most cases. Suarez and Messi remain up front, the left winger drops to the midfield, where he forms a four-man line.
In the attack, the team is trained to automatically adjust between 4-3-3, 4-4-2, and 4-2-3-1 depending on Messi's position. Leo has freedom, and can attack from the right wing in a 4-3-3, pair up with another striker in a 4-4-2, or play as the number 10 in a 4-2-3-1. This, it should be said, works very well!
Messi’s influence
And if you're not following Inter and Leo this season and doubt that the Argentinian is still fine, you shouldn't be. Messi continues to be a key player even at 36.
Inter's results directly depend on whether Leo plays. Let's take a look. This season, he had a muscle injury that caused him to miss 5 matches. In those, Inter won only once, drew once and lost 3 times.
With Messi, Inter played 11 matches, winning 7, drawing 3 and losing only once.
Unfortunately, this injury stopped Leo from playing in one of the matches of the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals, which is the equivalent of the European Champions League. In this clash, Inter lost to Mexican Monterrey, which led to the elimination from the tournament.
Instead, in MLS, The Herons have become the absolute opposite of last year's team. Now Messi and company are in first place in the Eastern Conference, and they have no intention of stopping.
Winning the regular season and then the MLS Cup is the number one priority for the campaign, and the success of the season will be judged by the results of these competitions.
6 май 2024
