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Miami FC Midfielder Mike Lahoud Expects Strong Start And Finish In 2017

The midfielder believes new additions to the squad puts Miami at the forefront of title contenders
Matthew Levine (@NASLInsider} | Feb 3, 2017

Photo credit: Miami FC/Orovio Photography

Miami FC had a slow start to its first NASL season in 2016, but had a much stronger showing during the Fall Season. While the club ultimately fell just short of reaching the postseason, the lessons learned in that first campaign should guide the club this year.

“Going into 2017, our mission is start strong and finish strong,” Miami FC midfielder Mike Lahoud told NASL.com. "The way we’re going about preseason, the signings we’ve made – we’re here to win.”

Lahoud was a midseason signing last year, joining the club towards the end of the Spring Season and made an impact as the club improved as the campaign wore on. He was just one of several additions that helped spark the turnaround and Lahoud, 30, will be joined by several potential impact signings when the season kicks off in March.

Miami FC has added former NASL Golden Ball and Golden Boot winner Stefano Pinho as well as 2016 NASL Best XI member Michel. Those signings, Lahoud believes, has vaulted the club to an early favorite to contend for the NASL title.

“I think we’ve become the target, everyone wants to beat Miami,” he said. “People are starting to look at us as the favorite because of our personnel, but it means nothing if we don’t put it together.”

Looked to as a team that should be atop the standings at the end of the year puts a different pressure on the players. Lahoud, who spent the first part of the Spring Season with the eventual winners in 2016, the New York Cosmos, experienced what it’s like when you’re on the team with a target on its back.

“That was very good preparation of handling the pressure,” said Lahoud adding, “When you’re the defending champions you earn the right, we haven’t earned the right to do anything yet.”

During his time in Miami last year Lahoud has seen the community start to rally around the club, including the growth of the supporters’ group, Dade Brigade.  

“There’s a sense of community growing around the team,” he said. “The way the organization has planned and envisioned this project is incredible. I look forward to being a part of it and seeing it grow and hopefully leaving a legacy in the city of Miami through soccer.”

While Lahoud will have to learn the tendencies of his new teammates, which should be ironed out during the club’s preseason that is already underway, there should be less of a steep learning curve. The core of the squad has returned and coach Alessandro Nesta, who was in charge of a touchline for the first time in 2016, has learned lessons as well from last season.

During the past season, Lahoud continued to grow as a player and is ready to get back to work under the guidance of Nesta.

“I’m excited to continue to learn under him,” he said.

What it will take to reach the postseason and claim the Soccer Bowl Trophy with a win in The Championship Final all comes down to being able to push though, even when things are difficult.

“Will power,” Lahoud said. “We will have to will ourselves. Each of us will be called on to will the team forward.”

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