Recoveries and reliability: Julian Gressel’s move to Inter Miami

Inter Miami wasted little time in the off-season, announcing the signing of Luis Suárez to join the trio of former Barcelona stars already at the club.

The Uruguayan links up with Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, four key pillars of the all-conquering Barcelona team of 2014/15. But while Suárez’ arrival certainly made headlines it also raised a question; who is expected to do the running for Tata Martino’s side?

Earlier this week we got (at least part of) the answer, with the unveiling of Julian Gressel on a free agent signing. At first glance it may not seem like the most consequential of moves; the versatile midfielder turned 30 last month and, although he won MLS Cup with Columbus Crew last year, was a bit-part player for Wilfried Nancy’s side in the post-season.

But while he may not be the biggest name to have signed for Inter Miami, he may prove to be one of the most important. Gressel, most often fielded on the right of midfield, has the crucial off-ball qualities that Miami’s more illustrious recent signings no longer possess.

With thanks to our friends at BeSoccer, here’s a look at what Julian Gressel will bring to Inter Miami...

What does Julian Gressel do?

The 2023 season was a strange one for Gressel. Just a year after joining Vancouver Whitecaps he was signed by Columbus Crew to play as a wing-back in Nancy’s high-energy system.

He was named in the starting XI for nine of 11 regular season fixtures for the Crew but dropped to the bench in the post-season, failing to secure a starting berth in the final four games of the Crew’s MLS Cup-winning campaign. The more explosive Mohamed Farsi was favoured in those crucial post-season games and Gressel was allowed to leave the club as a free agent at the conclusion of the season.

But despite falling out of favour at Lower.com Field, Gressel’s performance data from his time in Ohio highlights a very specific set of qualities.

In an admittedly small sample size, he was one of the top passers in the league in his position and ranked in the 99th percentile for key passes and successful passes into the box. He took relatively few shots and ranks barely above average for assists, suggesting that he was operating as more of a facilitator than a creator. That immediately looks like a good profile for a player joining a team with Messi and Suárez, where Gressel will be expected to help those star players get on the ball and show their quality.

Also crucial is the off-the-ball output, where Gressel performs well. He ranks highly for recoveries and is in the 94th percentile for recoveries in the final third. for all of Messi and Suárez’ attacking qualities advancing ages means that they are no longer able to provide the off-the-ball input that top teams now require. With that duo certain to start most weeks for Miami, Gressel’s dynamism could provide a vital balance to the forward line.

Gressel reunited with Martino

Last year’s triumph with Columubs was the second MLS Cup of Gressel’s career. The first came in 2018 as part of Tata Martino’s Atlanta United side. Gressel’s three years with Atlanta was the most productive spell of his career and he missed just four MLS games during his time there.

In the championship-winning 2018 season Gressel was at his very best and a crucial part of Martino’s system. In MLS Cup he lined up in a hard-working midfield alongside Darlington Nagbe and Eric Remedi, their energy allowing Miguel Almiron and Josef Martinez the freedom they needed to express themselves further forward.

With more clinical attackers in front of him Gressel sacrificed his offensive output and turbo-charged the out-of-possession work. His stats for the season show him playing in a more withdrawn role, breaking up the play for the eventual MLS Cup winners.

It is this element of his performance that Martino will be hoping that Gressel can replicate in Miami. Once again the USMNT international will be asked to do the leg-work for more creative players ahead of him, allowing them to rest without the ball and save their energies for those crucial transition moments.

Although he played more centrally at parts of that season Gressel was most frequently used as a right midfielder and occasionally as a right back. Martino trusted Gressel to work diligently as a defender and could see him as a potential replacement for DeAndre Yedlin on the right side of defence for Miami.

Martino’s Mr Reliable

Gressel is clearly viewed as a trusted lieutenant for Martino, who is still looking to mould Miami’s extraordinarily talented squad into a successful team. Miami will be looking to compete on all fronts in 2024 but, given the age of a number of key players, others in the squad will be expected to pick up the slack.

Gressel turned 30 recently but has an incredible injury record, with just one minor ankle injury listed on Transfermarkt from his seven-year professional career. His versatility made him a near-ever-present during three seasons at Atlanta United and he was Martino’s most-used outfield player during the victorious 2018 campaign.

Back in 2018, as Atlanta United geared up for the post-season, Gressel was full of praise for Martino and the impact that the Argentine had had on his performances.

“He’s put a lot of trust in me as a player and he kind of kick-started my career in that sense,” Gressel said at the time. “I’m really grateful to have him as a first manager in the pros. I’ve learned so much from him.

Six years on Gressel and Martino reunite and set their sights on MLS Cup once again. The industrious midfielder may not have the prestige of some of Miami’s other recent signings, but the head coach is fully aware of his value.