Inter Miami: Central midfield must improve

As MLS announced its return to play and with Inter Miami keen to add more players, the expansion side is still lacking quality in key areas. The most pressing need for La Rosa Negra is a dominating presence in central midfield.

With the announcement that Major League Soccer will return with the MLS is Back Tournament, clubs across the country prepare to gather together at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World. For Inter Miami, that means building upon the chemistry that was shown during the first two games of the season.

Against D.C. United, Miami showed signs of cohesion, dominating most of the game before falling short and losing 2-1, their lone goal coming from Designated Player Rodolfo Pizarro. If Miami is to progress through the tournament and win, they will need to add some quality in certain areas on the pitch.

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In an interview with MLS Extratime, team General Manager Paul McDonough stated that the club are looking to add not just two, but three players before the tournament begins:

"“I’ve got roster space and cap flexibility. I want to add players before we go to Orlando. I don’t know if they’ll let that happen. Everyone else has been able to do it, so if I’ve got the money and the space, I want the freedom to be able to do that.”"

Just recently, Paul Tenorio of The Athletic, reported that ex-Atlanta United hardman, Leonardo Gonzalez Pirez is set to join Inter Miami in early July. With a DP spot left and plenty of options, it’s imperative that Miami find the correct players that can help take Diego Alonso’s squad to the next level.

Alonso likes his teams to be tactically flexible. With him in charge, then, it is important that Miami build the squad in such a manner. Depending on the opponent, they can play a possession-based style that sees the team patiently move the ball from flank to flank to probe for an opening, or in the cases where they don’t have the ball, they press the opposition, retrieve the ball as quickly as possible before launching into a counter-attack while the opponent is on the back foot.

If McDonough’s comments are any clue, the team could use a more dynamic passer of the ball in central midfield. Inter Miami has been linked to a number of central midfield players who can beat the press and use their ball-playing skills to beat the defenders in the first line of a defensive block. Players like Agustin Almendra, David Silva, and Arturo Vidal are all capable of keeping the ball under pressure while dictating the play from deep.

Against LAFC and D.C. United, while Miami didn’t play poorly, it was evident that the team could use a number eight that can not only progress the ball from defense and into Miami’s danger men up top, but also provide defensive stability when the attack breaks down in the final third.

The team needs someone to glue everything together, to help maintain the tempo and control the match, especially in possession. In Alonso’s press-happy system, it is important that the midfield can help provide that stability and an offensive threat that can help support in the middle and final third of the pitch.

As MLS is Back quickly approaches and Inter Miami dip their toes into the transfer market, La Rosa Negra are two more key additions from not only seriously challenging for the tournament but when the regular season returns in full as well. And in their search to complete the team, a dominating presence in central midfield is key.