MLS expert Matt Doyle has named Inter Miami’s two most important players outside of superstar names Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
The Herons have been on fire this season having enjoyed a big winter that saw Inter Miami saw the aforementioned Suarez as well as the likes of Julian Gressel and Nicolas Freire, with the Florida franchise currently leading the Supporters’ Shield race.
With Messi now fully fit, Inter Miami have been an attacking force to be reckoned with, with Tata Martino’s side looking unstoppable with the Argentine leading the line alongside former FC Barcelona teammate Suarez.
Yet two players outside of the superstar category have been given some love.
Nicolas Freire and Tomas Aviles named Inter Miami’s difference-makers away from star players
Writing for MLS’s official website, expert Doyle has claimed that Freire and Tomas Aviles will be the two players who help Inter Miami really contest for silverware this season, with the center-backs starting to click at the back.
Freire has been an assured presence at the back for Inter Miami since signing on loan, whilst Aviles is start to show his potential having joined the Herons last year with a big reputation from Argentina, and the duo are now being tipped to push Martino’s side to greatness.
Doyle said when discussing where Inter Miami now go from here: “So where are we on Miami, then? We’re here: The best, most important players on the team are obviously Messi, Suarez and Busquets.
“The swing players – the guys who will determine whether Miami go into Leagues Cup and the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs as ‘this team has a shot because of Messi’ vs. ‘this team are huge favorites and it’ll be shocking if they lose’ – are Freire and Tomas Aviles. Their ability to create both rhythm and space with their distribution is the differentiator.”
Messi and Suarez know they’re in safe hands with defensive duo
Messi and Suarez might be the stars of this Inter Miami team, but the attacking duo are well aware that they’re in safe hands when Aviles and Freire are on the pitch, with the pair starting to form a good connection.
Whilst goals are still being leaked in at the back, it’s a process that should erode away with time as Aviles and Freire spend more time at the back with Martino tweaking the defensive system to their liking.
And come the end of the season and the playoffs, Inter Miami should be solid enough at the back to handle the pressure of the post-season, with Aviles and Freire the stars away from Messi and Suarez.
