Inter Miami 2024 MLS season preview: Tactics, predicted XI, predictions

After a crazy 2023 that saw Inter Miami miss out on the postseason but still win Leagues Cup with the legendary Lionel Messi, the Herons will aim for more stability in the 2024 campaign.

The previous year had everything possible for the Herons -- they parted ways with Phil Neville mid-season, signed the greatest player to ever live, won their first-ever trophy and then capped it all off by missing the playoffs.

It was truly a rollercoaster season for Miami with new head coach Gerardo 'Tata' Martino, who took over the reigns just before Messi officially signed with the south Florida side. But with some fresh faces in the squad and players returning from long-term injuries, Miami hopes to enjoy a more stable season in 2024 as they're set to compete in MLS, Leagues Cup, US Open Cup and Concacaf Champions Cup.

Here's everything you need to know about Inter Miami ahead of the 2024 MLS season.

How did Inter Miami perform in 2023?

• Regular season: 14th in Eastern Conference
• MLS Cup Playoffs: Did not qualify
• US Open Cup: Runners-up

Inter Miami transfer activity

Transfers in

Transfers out

Gerardo 'Tata' Martino: Tactics and style of play

Gerardo 'Tata' Martino doesn't typically stick to one formation: He goes back and forth between a 3-5-2 and a 4-3-3, depending on the players he has available and the upcoming opponents. His back-and-forth approach sometimes looks like a masterclass, while in other instances the team looks discombobulated.

However, he still guided Miami to Leagues Cup glory -- their first-ever trophy -- and has exceptional quality in the midfield and attack. Of course there's Messi, alongside Luis Suarez, as both ex-Barcelona players are capable of playing in a striker partnership up front. Leo Campana is also capable of linking with either player, too.

Sergio Busquets, Gregore and Diego Gomez -- as well as Benjamin Cremaschi when he returns a few months later from injury -- all play in the middle of the park regardless of the formation, keeping control of possession and recycling play to jumpstart attacks. Former Spain international Jordi Alba and 2023 MLS Cup winner Julian Gressel are set to play as wing-backs, with the latter able to tuck into the midfield if needed.

Miami's backline is where things start to get spooky. Martino can rely on USMNT player DeAndre Yedlin to take up shop at full-back or wing-back, while Alba can also take on a more defensive role. But with the departures of Kamal Miller and Christopher McVey, the Herons are a bit short at center-back. The young Tomas Aviles, Serhiy Kryvtsov, Noah Allen and the recently-acquired Nicolas Freire will probably play the majority of minutes, but one injury could leave Martino with problems in the defense.

Miami has an exceptional squad overall that can play how Martino wants them -- using the wider areas with the wing-backs to play cut-back crosses into the box -- it's just a matter of the team's experienced stars staying healthy in the busy season to come.

Inter Miami predicted starting XI (3-5-2): Callender; Aviles, Kryvtsov, Freire; Gressel, Gregore, Busquets, Ruiz, Alba; Messi, Suarez.

Who is Inter Miami's best player?

Lionel Messi

Yep, you guessed it. Messi is Miami's best player by a long shot and proved that during his magical Leagues Cup run where he notched ten goals in seven appearances to lead the Herons to their first piece of silverware since becoming an MLS side in 2020.

He toyed with MLS defenses with perfectly-weighted passes, always being a step ahead of everyone else on the pitch, and ended up with 11 goals and five assists in 14 appearances for Miami. There's no doubt he hopes to lift even more titles in the coming season.

An old injury that reared its ugly head near the end of the regular season saw Messi sit out a few games here and there, while Miami dropped points and failed to qualify for the postseason. He remains the best player in the league, though, and once he's fully fit there will be no stopping the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner.

Inter Miami 2024 season prediction

Before preseason began, many thought the Herons were a lock to make the playoffs based off their moves made in the transfer window as well as key players getting time to rest and return from injury.

But their horror show preseason -- which saw them win just one game over the Hong Kong Team where Messi and Suarez missed out through injury -- has plenty thinking otherwise. There's just no way Messi could miss the playoffs in his first full season in the league, right? Miami has enough quality to cope without Messi when Martino rests him or when he's on international duty with Argentina, but it might get tricky at times.

There's also the aspect of not taking preseason games too seriously as many teams are trying to gel with new players, new coaches and new ideas. But Miami didn't look great in their tune-up games.

However, there's a good chance they will go on a run starting in the middle of the season after starting slow due to knocks picked up by Messi, Suarez and Busquets. You can expect to see the Herons firing near the middle of the season and again after Copa America, finishing anywhere between fourth and seventh in the Eastern Conference table.

Will Inter Miami qualify for MLS Cup Playoffs? Yes

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