Marsman out, G. Higuain doubtful for finale
The gloomy weather Friday seemed fitting for the final Inter Miami training session of a season that fell far short of expectations for the second year in a row.
At least last season, due to an expanded playoff field, Miami grabbed the final postseason berth with a 10th-place finish in the Eastern Conference. This year, only the top seven made the cut and 11th-place Miami is out of the race entering Sunday’s regular season finale on the road against first-place New England Revolution (3:30 p.m., My33, CW34).
Miami will be playing without goalkeeper Nick Marsman, who suffered a deep leg contusion in last weekend’s 3-1 loss to New
York City FC. Forward Gonzalo Higuain is doubtful for the game with plantar fasciitis that has gotten worse in recent weeks. Higuain’s brother, Federico, retired after the New York game, so he will not be traveling.
“There was massive disappointment after the game last weekend because we’re going into the last game of the season with nothing to play for apart from the most important thing, which is pride,” said first-year coach Phil Neville.
For chief soccer officer Chris Henderson, who was hired last winter, this will be the first time in his MLS front-office career that his team is not in the playoffs.
Under Henderson, the Seattle Sounders reached the postseason in 11 consecutive years, starting with their expansion season in 2009, and lifted two MLS Cups.
Neville, who played 11 seasons for Manchester United, is also unaccustomed to losing records. As he evaluated his team, he suggested major roster changes are coming for next season.
“When I took the job, playoffs was the minimum I wanted so I am massively disappointed,” Neville said. “I thought with the squad we had we would be able to do that. What we’ve seen over the past two years is the nucleus of this squad get opportunities to become successful and without giving away any secrets, I think it’s plain for everyone to see with the results we’ve had on the field that we need to make changes to the squad in terms of the mentality, character and performance levels. That’s the challenge from now until Jan. 17 [opening of training camp].”
He will meet individually with all the players next week to discuss their status going forward. MLSimposed sanctions for the club’s roster rule breaking last year leave them with financial challenges.
Among the questions is whether to retain the players whose contracts expire in December, including: Brek Shea, Victor Ulloa, John McCarthy, Jay Chapman, Kelvin Leerdam and Sami Guediri. Midfielder Rodolfo Pizarro, one of three Designated Players, may wind up back in Mexico’s Liga MX, according to Mexican media reports.
“The minute we got knocked out of the playoff race, you could smell the mood of the team change from one of, ‘Let’s go for the playoffs,’ to thinking about their futures, financial futures, families,” Neville said. “The chatter around the building has been about what the plan is for next week in terms of individual meetings we have and the big decisions we have to make as a football club.”
MLS announced Friday that the 2022 season will kick off earlier than usual to accommodate the Qatar World Cup, which begins Nov. 21. The MLS regular season will end Oct. 9 and the MLS Cup will be on Nov. 5.
Neville welcomes the shorter offseason.
“I want the league to start next week,” he joked. “The gap between the end of the season and season starting was too great last year.
“Players were having three to four months off.
Our players struggled with that. How much training? How much rest? Blaise [Matuidi] said it was the most he’s had off his career. He found it real difficult. So did Gonzalo. I think eight weeks is maximum a team should have off.”
Forward Josh Penn returned from a loan to Charleston Battery of the USL Championship division.
Three players from Inter Miami’s Fort Lauderdale USL team — George Acosta, Noah Allen and Harvey Neville (Phil’s son) — will travel with the senior squad to Sunday’s New England game, but will not be in uniform and are just going for the experience, Phil Neville said.