Phil Neville reveals Inter Miami roster desires for 2022: "We want to lower the age of the roster"
The Inter Miami head coach said on Thursday that he and sporting director Chris Henderson have talked about making the team younger
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Phil Neville’s Inter Miami press conferences regularly leave those on the outside of the team with lots of nuggets of information to chew on, but the one he dropped on Thursday may just have been among the juiciest of the year.
Inter Miami has six games left in its 2021 season and is still mathematically alive to reach the playoffs, but the task is a sizable one given that the team is eight points shy of the red line in the Eastern Conference. The uphill climb is so steep that a sense of defeat has seemingly creeped into the organization regarding its postseason chances, as evidenced by how Inter Miami has already begun to talk publicly about its plans for next year.
It is normal for club officials to start preparing for the future behind the scenes even in the midst of ongoing campaigns, but talking about it publicly does not usually happen until the outcomes of said seasons are decided. Inter Miami this week has gone against the grain in that sense, however, with Neville revealing on Thursday some of the team’s desires for 2022 and beyond.
“I think that is what me and (sporting director) Chris Henderson want to do,” said Neville. “We want to get some consistent performances, a consistent roster, lower the age of the roster to make sure that we have got good, young, hungry players because I think it is a young person’s league this MLS.
“Maybe 10-15 years ago it was seen as a retirement league. Now it is definitely a young person’s league with some of the best young players coming through the academies now that have been developed over the last 5-10 years. We are a club that wants to produce our own players as well.”
If Inter Miami plans to get younger, removing some of the veterans on the squad is likely in the cards. Some of the older players on the roster are Gonzalo Higuain (33), Blaise Matuidi (34), Federico Higuain (36), Ryan Shawcross (34), Kieran Gibbs (32), Brek Shea (31), Kelvin Leerdam (31), and Joevin Jones (30).
Just which of them go is unclear right now, but the inconsistent performances from Gonzalo Higuain and Matuidi, along with fellow Designated Player Rodolfo Pizarro, probably makes them prime candidates. Regardless, expect some notable personnel change for Inter Miami this winter.
“I have been part of teams that have been the worst in the league one year and the next year won the double,” said Henderson earlier in the week. “Things can change very quickly, and sometimes that comes down to maybe 2-3 players in a roster that can change the culture and the statistics throughout the year.”
Eleventh-placed Inter Miami next visits the Columbus Crew on Saturday.