Charlotte FC reacquires Pep Biel as fourth season starts. Are more moves on the way?
Pep Biel is all about hard work, and that showed during his first season in a Charlotte FC kit.
While it was obvious that the attacking midfielder knew how to create opportunities to score and could map out where a pass will land, Biel’s personality and applications of his skills to American soccer really stood out to head coach Dean Smith.
Biel, 28, is set to return to Charlotte this season after scoring two goals and contributing three assists over 11 appearances. He is on loan until Aug. 1 and will not occupy a designated player slot, but will take up an international roster slot.
“(Biel’s) attitude is first-class,” Smith said Monday at Charlotte FC’s preseason news conference. “He wants to come back. That’s a big thing. You’ve got a player who’s hungry to be back, enjoyed the short time he had with us — it’s a big thing for both parties.
”They’ve enjoyed working with him. He was involved with one of the goals of the season that Karol Świderski scored with a great little build-up play. Those are the sorts of things you can do. And I’ve always felt that when you start bringing in players of a certain level, then other players will get to that level as well.”
‘It helps us build a stronger team’
Biel came to Charlotte after playing overseas for 12 seasons.
The Spaniard had dominated for FC Copenhagen over four seasons in the Champions League, and then joined Olympiacos early last year. Biel was loaned to Augsburg, a German club that plays in the Bundesliga, and signed with Charlotte on loan last August.
“We know the type of player that Pep is,” Smith said. “Not having the (designated player) status helps us. I think it helps us build a stronger team, a stronger squad, a stronger roster. He proved at the end of the season, he contributed goals and assists, and I think he can go and do that throughout the season.”
Biel may not be Charlotte FC’s last acquisition of a midfielder
Eryk Williamson, 27, is reportedly joining Charlotte following a stellar tenure in Portland.
The midfielder from Alexandria, Virginia, has played in 98 matches over seven seasons. A longtime Portland Timbers standout, Williamson contributed six goals to go with 14 assists while missing extended time due to knee injuries, including multiple ACL tears.
Smith didn’t comment on this specific trade, one in exchange for cash considerations reported by The Oregonian on Saturday night, but the head coach did indicate that Charlotte is not finished adding.
“I still believe we need somebody who handles the ball really well,” Smith said Monday. “In the middle third of the pitch, we gave up the ball a little bit too easy at times last season. We need to improve, possession-wise, in the middle third, so you can play forward and break lines.
“We’re looking at people. We’re looking in the domestic market, because like I said, I feel that we can build the squad with a few more domestic players.”
When does Charlotte FC’s fourth season start?
Charlotte opens its season Saturday, Feb. 22, at 10:30 p.m., on the road at Seattle. The Queen City side’s home opener against Atlanta is set for Saturday, March 1, at 2 p.m.
