Chris Henderson spoke about the team’s on-field progression, pre-season friendly plans and Luis Suarez transfer rumours.
William GittinsWillGittUpdate: Nov 20th, 2023 17:36 EST
CHRIS ARJOONAFP
The 2023 season was a time of great upheaval for Inter Miami, but the club’s sporting director Chris Henderson has told supporters that further change is coming.
Henderson spoke to reporters on Monday, reflecting on the team’s campaign and the planned improvements going forwards. Although the arrival of Lionel Messi sparked an incredible mid-season turnaround – culminating in a Leagues Cup triumph – Henderson made clear that more is needed.
“We have seen what this team is capable of when we’re on all cylinders and everyone is out there,” he said.
Inter Miami CSO Chris Henderson on the boost of having Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba in terms of looking to add new players:"Who wouldn't want to play with the greatest players of all time in their positions?" pic.twitter.com/AACJLb86Sx
— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) November 20, 2023
“We had some beautiful football, controlling games. But we want more. We will improve this roster for 2024. We will work tirelessly to evaluate the changes that need to be made.”
Are Inter Miami going to sign Luis Suarez?
One of the key areas of speculation since the ending of Inter Miami’s season has been potential incomings. The departure of forward Josef Martinez means that there is another Designated Player spot on the roster, with Luis Suarez currently viewed as the most likely option.
“We have to make sure that players are coming for the right reasons”
“He’s currently with Gremio, so we don’t want to comment on a player who is not on our roster,” Henderson said, when quizzed on the prospect of Suarez reuniting with his former Barcelona teammates.
“He is a player who has always been linked with our team and it’s great to have great players around the world connected with Inter Miami and wanting to come here.”
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Suarez, now 35, has had a productive season with Brazilian side Gremio and could provide the vital cutting edge that Miami lacked at points during 2023.
Henderson calls for fixture congestion alleviation
Inter Miami’s season really turned on a stunning summertime spell that saw them lift the Leagues Cup in late August. The turnaround was brought on by the arrival of Messi, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets but their advancing ages meant that they suffered physically in the final weeks of the regular season.
Messi picked up an injury in September that ruled him out of four key games and the team missed out on the playoffs. The whole squad appeared affected by the sheer quantity of games played over the summer months, particularly coming from the expanded Leagues Cup format.
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Lionel Messi picked up a muscular injury in an MLS fixture against Toronto FC.CARMEN MANDATOAFP
Speaking about the scheduling issues on Monday, Henderson argued that there “just isn’t enough game days” to give players the required break between matches.
