Inter Miami will be changing its tactics next season.
According to head coach Tata Martino, Miami will likely switch to a 3-5-2 in 2024: “The team seems to be more solid with a line of five. This is something we will improve on over the off-season.”
Miami Sporting Director Chris Henderson has spoken about how the organization wants to improve in the off-season to challenge for more trophies as well: “We want more. We have high hopes for 2024 and we want to show what we can do as a club. Winning trophies and having high ambitions is something we’ve had since day one.”
The focal point of the new-look Miami will be Lionel Messi.
The Argentine ended his first year in Miami with 14 G/A in all competitions, leading them to the Leagues Cup title in August. Improving means not only bringing in the right players but, also putting Messi in the best position to succeed.
The 36-year-old showed that his best position for Miami on the field is either on the right wing or as a second striker up top.
Heading into 2024, Inter Miami wants to make sure they have the right tactical set-up to take advantage of the former Barcelona man’s skill set.
Messi’s best position
Messi is best when he can play higher up the field and dictate the tempo of the match.
For Inter Miami, his best stints on the field came when he was deployed on the right wing, cutting inside with his left foot and either shooting or distributing the ball to his teammates.
As the 2023 season rolled on, Martino would experiment with formations, lining up Messi as a second striker next to Leonardo Campana or Josef Martinez. Though the 3-5-2 was defensively sound, it wasn’t the most offensively fruitful.
Next season, Miami needs to figure out a way to become more offensively consistent.
This could see Messi play as an attacking midfielder in a 3-4-1-2 or as a free-roaming striker in a 3-5-2.
Whatever Martino decides to do, one thing is clear: Miami’s attack must run through Messi in order to be successful.