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Maybe Phil Neville Wasn’t Inter Miami’s Problem

It’s easy to blame the “other guy” when your team is failing to perform up to expectations. But maybe that blame should be shifted somewhere else.

By Matthew Clark

Inter Miami's Noah Allen goes head-to-head with Chicago's Jonathan Dean in a recent MLS match.
Inter Miami's Noah Allen goes head-to-head with Chicago's Jonathan Dean in a recent MLS match. / Michael Reaves/GettyImages
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Sacking Phil Neville Was Still the Right Thing To Do For Inter Miami

It was 10 losses in 15 matches following the fourth straight defeat in June 2023.

I’m sure it was difficult for David Beckham and the Mas brothers to do it, but sacking then-Inter Miami manager Phil Neville was clearly the right thing to do.

After being appointed as Inter Miami’s boss in January 2021, Neville led the Herons to the MLS Cup playoffs in his first year and a complete collapse in Year 2.

The biggest problem wasn’t necessarily the wins and losses — although that is important — but the complete lack of offensive prowess.

In the short time Neville was in charge in Fort Lauderdale, Inter Miami managed just 1.6 points per game at home and a paltry 1.4 home goals per match.

Their points-per-game at home was only 19th-best in Major League Soccer while their goals-per-home-game was dead last.

Inter Miami ranked at, or near, the bottom of the league in most major statistical categories — including expected goals (1.1), shots (7.8) and chances created from set pieces (1.4).

You don’t have to be a statistician to know that those numbers are bad… really bad.

So, yes, the decision to sack Neville was the right one — and one that should have come a little sooner.

In reality, Inter Miami ownership was giving Neville a long leash after he helped lead the side to the playoffs in the first year.

But the numbers don’t lie. Inter Miami was not a good offensive team.

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