Offensive and Defensive Layers Vital To Philadelphia Union Improving in 2023

The Philadelphia Union will add new layers to their attack and back line to build on the record-setting 2022 campaign.

CHESTER - Everyone seems to be asking the same question about the 2023 version of the Philadelphia Union.

How on earth will the team improve on a record-setting 2022 campaign?

I could end this article now with the obvious answer of winning trophies, but the real answer from within the club is far more nuanced than that.

The club added more layers to the attack that couldn’t be stopped and the defense that barely let anyone through it.

“I think we think of it as a fresh slate,” Union forward Mikael Uhre said. “Last year was a really good year, no doubt, but that was last year. We have to keep the focus on what we need to do this year and that’s the only way we can continue to improve on what we did last year. That should be the goal.”

Uhre, Julian Carranza and Daniel Gazdag combined for 49 goals in Major League Soccer’s regular season.

The starting trio could be even more dangerous in front of goal now that Uhre has a full preseason under his legs. The Danish forward did not find his stride until the summer after he experienced a long wait for his P1 visa and suffered an injury that kept him out for a few matches.

“It feels way different,” Uhre said. “Going into the season with a good preseason under my belt. The team also did well in preseason. Just being settled in the apartment and know where you have to go get groceries and where to take care of everything. I would say it’s much different this year than last year.”

A full preseason has given Uhre a much better launching point for 2023, and that could lead to the designated player taking over as the team’s top scorer.

“We have a better starting point because we know what we are capable of and what our weaknesses and strengths are as players,” Uhre said. “Then again, it’s about adding layers and finding ways to improve and I think we’ve been good at that in preseason. It’s what we do in the season that matters.”

The spine of the Union back line was in place from the start of last season, and even though Jakob Glesnes and Jack Elliott are a well-oiled partnership nowadays, there is still room to find improvement.

One of the ways Glesnes finds motivation is to look at the teams aiming to threaten the Union in the Eastern Conference.

“We saw last year that we had a good team, but this is a new year and we have to improve from last year because we can’t sneak up on anybody any longer,” Glesnes said. “I think people have started to respect we are a good team. We also know we are a good team. But it is so close between the teams here that we have to be on from the first minute the season starts to have a good season.”

Glesnes and the rest of his teammates can also find motivation from the mentality they have carved out during the last few seasons.

“Me and Jack know each other really well and we had a really good season last year. We want to do the same again,” Glesnes said. “We have Kai, Mbaizo and Nate and now we have Damion as well. We have a really good squad, and like Jim has said, we will have 55-some games, so it will be a tough season, but we have a winner mentality in the group and everyone wants to win and that’s a huge thing to have. I think that’s one of the reasons we have been so successful.”

But the status quo of a strong back line and three double-digit goal scorers won’t mark an improvement for the club.

That’s where the layers come in. The layers that you have heard about so much in the preseason.

The acquisition of Joaquin Torres will allow the Union to utilize different attack-minded formations. Torres could be used as a second No. 10 with Gazdag, a second striker, or out on the wings in a 4-2-3-1.

Quinn Sullivan has been tested out in the forward role as well. The Homegrown Player will be tasked with replacing some of Cory Burke’s seven-goal output from 2022.

“Joaquin is a really good player with an amazing left foot. I can’t wait to get the service from him as well,” Uhre said. “We know what Quinn can do. He has a great feel for finishing and he’s really fast. There’s a lot of layers to our squad and that’s going to help us a lot in the long run.”

In defense, Damion Lowe and Brandan Craig give the Union center back depth and flexibility. A formation of three center backs will be used at some point to either start, or close out, games.

“That’s a strength,” Glesnes said. “If we are leading, or whatever the situation is, we can change a game plan. We can get in some really good players. The depth in the team is really good. We are ready for a good season, but we also know it will be tough and we have to go on from the first second. We just get one home opener and we look forward to it.”

The different layers will allow the Union to rest starters during the longest season in club history that features four different competitions. It will also allow head coach Jim Curtin to bring different approaches to home and road games, something the club did not have in 2022.

You don’t need to motivate the current starters with competition from other players, especially when the focus is on completing the unfinished job from 2022.

“I don’t know if revenge is the right word,” Glesnes said. “We knew we had a good season last year. Everyone had the taste in their mouth at the end. It was good to come to the final, but it was really hard to lose it in the last second there. I think everyone has a feeling that we want to do this again and take it all the way, starting with the Supporters’ Shield and then winning it at home.”

While a strong defense is a good starting point, the Union still have to score goals, and a good beginning is with a forward feeling great going into the regular season.

“People are looking sharp,” Uhre said. “I haven’t been as fit as I am right now. I’m really looking forward to starting again on Saturday.”