Inter Miami sporting director Chris Henderson offers clues about what to expect in 2022

Inter Miami players are on vacation but sporting director and chief soccer officer Chris Henderson is spending long days at the office, leading his staff as the team rebuilds after a disappointing season.

He has been fielding trade offers, exploring loan options, and scouting players across the globe. He has plans to travel to South America to evaluate prospects. Ten players’ contract options were declined, though a few of those are still in conversations to return under different terms.

Henderson met with the media on Tuesday morning to review with 2021 season and offer some insight into what fans can expect in 2022.

One word that came up repeatedly was “youth.”

Henderson has been involved with MLS since 1996, as a player – including a stint with the Miami Fusion – and then as a coach and executive. He said it is “a young league and we need energy, need to be able to move around the field.” Given that, and the financial sanctions imposed by the league, Miami will rely on a youth movement, including at a handful coming up from its USL team.

He said 17-year-old Edison Azcona, who scored for the Dominican Republic U20 team over the weekend, is among the club’s prospects who will get extra attention.

“Phil (Neville) is great at working with young players, one of the best I’ve seen on the grass,” Henderson said of the Miami coach. “With what we’re dealing with in the next two years we’re going to need to rely on youth and developing those players. I think Phil is a very good coach and this will give us the opportunity to have our fingerprints on this roster which I really don’t feel it’s there yet.”

One player who may not return is center back Ryan Shawcross, who joined the team from English club Stoke City last February. The 34-year-old struggled with a back injury that required surgery. “We will see how things progress with that and make a decision after the new year,” Henderson said.

A pressing question is whether all three Designated Players – Gonzalo Higuain, Blaise Matuidi, Rodolfo Pizarro – will be back.

Of the three, 27-year-old Pizarro is the likeliest to get offers, as he is in his prime, has been in and out of the Mexican national team and has been the subject of transfer rumors.

“All three DPs are under contract, we’re moving forward with our DPs, but we’re listening to all options to help us improve the team,” Henderson said.

He said a team’s best, most popular players, are often the ones drawing offers. In Miami’s case, the most marketable players include Pizarro, Nico Figal, Leandro Gonzalez Pirez and Lewis Morgan.

“I was one of those players that got moved around, players know it’s part of the business,” he said. “If you have good players on your team, teams are going to ask for those players and often it’s the same players being asked about by multiple teams. We’ll listen to every offer and evaluate how the player coming in would connect with other players we have.”

Loans are another cost-effective way to improve the roster.

Miami added forward Indiana Vassilev on loan from Aston Villa for the second half of the season, and he scored three goals. He has since gone back to Villa where he’ll train under new manager Steven Gerrard but Henderson said he would welcome him back.

Henderson added they are looking for players who are smart and disciplined. “We want to make sure we’re controlling our emotions on the field,” he said, as the 2021 team led MLS in yellow cards.

The 2022 team needs to be harder to beat, Henderson said, which means grinding for ties and points even if it means not playing as pretty. Nashville had just one more win than Miami but finished in third place because of 18 ties. Miami had five ties and 17 losses.

“We have to hold more possession, so looking for players who can keep the ball a little more,” he said. “That keeps you in games. We all want to attack, but sometimes you have to get through with the result.”

Henderson said he is proud of the culture he and Neville have put in place and is optimistic about the team’s future.

“We now have processes in place that were not in place when I arrived,” Henderson said. “I think this is what will give us the foundation for long-term sustained success, and we are working diligently on improving the first team heading into next year.”