"He has been the unsung hero" - Pundit claims Lionel Messi's Inter Miami teammate reminds him of ex-Liverpool star James Milner

Former Arsenal and Inter Miami defender Kieran Gibbs has hailed Lionel Messi's teammate Julian Gressel for his impact in the Herons' midfield this season. He also compared Gressel to former Liverpool star James Milner highlighting the former's versatility and experience.

Inter Miami have made a bright start to their 2024 campaign with the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez finding great success in attack. They are currently at the top of the MLS Eastern Conference with 35 points from 18 games and have established themselves as one of the favorites to win the title after failing to qualify for the playoffs last year.

Despite many of Inter Miami's big names being in the spotlight, Gibbs opted to give credit to Gressel for his performances this season, saying (via Inter Miami News):

“I feel like Gressel has been really impressive, I would say he has been the unsung hero. For me, he’s been outstanding, his experience has been so important to the team, he’s been ever-present by playing every game, bagging six assists. He’s lethal on the set-pieces, he’s had such an impressive season. He’s a classic example of that player every team needs, and he’s proving it with his performances and versatility."

He added:

“Every team needs one of those players, I think of players like James Milner, who was so important for a manager to rely on, always fit, always available, ever-present, and you can tell that he has really grown, and even gone up another level compared to previous seasons, playing with Messi, Busquets, Suarez, it’s done him a world of good. It’s been a joy to watch him.”

Gressel has been an integral component in Inter Miami's midfield this season, playing all 22 games across all competitions, and providing five assists in the process. The USA international may not have eye-catching statistics but has been a staple for the Herons on the pitch, similar to James Milner during his time at Liverpool between 2015 and 2023.

Milner was one of Liverpool's most important players under Jurgen Klopp. The 38-year-old was a workhorse, readily available, and was extremely versatile, being deployed as a midfielder, left-back, and right-back during his spell at Anfield. He registered 26 goals and 46 assists in 332 appearances in total, winning seven trophies.

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When will Lionel Messi's Inter Miami next be back in action?

After nearly a fortnight of inaction, Lionel Messi's Inter Miami are set to resume their MLS campaign with an away game against Philadelphia Union. The two sides are set to face each other at Subaru Park on Saturday, June 15.

Lionel Messi and company are thriving at the top of the table but will be wary of being too complacent. They were held to a 3-3 draw against St. Louis in their last fixture and are just two points ahead of Cincinnati - who have two games in hand. Meanwhile, Philadelphia are eighth in the table with 20 points from 16 games.

Unfortunately for the Herons, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Matias Rojas are set to miss out on the fixture due to their commitments to their respective national teams ahead of the 2021 Copa America. However, they will be bolstered by the return of Benjamin Cremaschi and David Ruiz, as per the club's official website.