How Mikael Uhre can help Philadelphia Union make the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs

“Mikael Uhre is a guy that when he gets hot he’s as dangerous as any striker in the league, we know that, we have to get him service. I’ve talked with Mikael about becoming more involved in the run of play especially early in games, so finding the ball a little bit more – there can’t be 15-20 minute stretches where he’s not touching it – and he agreed with that and understands that”

That’s a quote from Philadelphia Union‘s Head Coach, Jim Curtin in response to a question on Mikael Uhre and the criticism he receives from fans prior to their game against New York Red Bulls last Saturday. Curtin had earlier revealed for the first time that Uhre’s option for the 2025 season had already been triggered by performance based incentives, and was confident enough to back a good performance from Uhre against Red Bulls in his press conference.

So how exactly did Uhre respond? By scoring the opening goal, assisting the second for Tai Baribo, and earning a spot on Major League Soccer’s Team of the Matchday’s bench for Machday 30.

What Made Uhre Effective Against Red Bulls?

Mikael Uhre is most dangerous when he gets involved, and gets involved early. He’s not as good at receiving the ball with a player on his hip and his back turned to goal, but excels when getting the ball at his feet in moments of transition where he can exploit center backs that are pulled out of position, and Jim Curtin spoke highly of Uhre’s ability to do exactly that against Red Bulls, which lead to Union’s opening road goal in the first few minutes of the game.

“He’s a weapon because their center backs are brave and step on the other side of midfield and that leaves him (Mikael) open in transition. I thought he came off the backline a couple times and set them up early to receive some balls at his feet, which he then lays back to Danny (Gazdag)., which sets up the next play where now the center backs are aggressive and maybe overplay him, and then he can get in behind”

Uhre Impact Off the Score Sheet

Many Union fans voice their frustration over Mikael Uhre, one of Philadelphia’s Designated Players and the most expensive signing in club history. During his time in Philadelphia, he’s scored 34 goals and 20 assists across 119 games in all competitions, which is a healthy output, but not earth-shattering by any means. You’d have to go all the way back to a rainy night on April 22nd of 2023 for the last time that Mikael Uhre had a game with multiple goal contributions, something that admittedly caught me by surprise.

But a lot of Uhre’s appeal to Jim Curtin and the way he wants his Union team to play isn’t focused so much around how many goals or assists Mikael can put away, but the consistency of his movement without the ball and how often he’s involved because of the space it provides players like Daniel Gazdag, Union’s leader scorer in 2024, to work his magic.

“We need those runs in behind, people dont realize it creates so much space for Gazdag to operate underneath. It doesn’t mean Mikael gets the ball every time when he makes those runs, but it makes the center backs 5, 10 yards deeper, and now Danny [Gazdag] has more room to operate.”
-Jim Curtin on the importance of Uhre’s movement without the ball

Uhre Staying Involved Important Piece to Union’s Playoff Push

Uhre’s 29 touches and 13 completed passes against Red Bulls were both the most he’s had in an MLS match dating back to the month of June, which didn’t come as a surprise given his registered goal and assist on the night. I don’t think Uhre needs to be this team’s leading goal scorer, though I understand fan’s frustration for him not filling that role. But I do think his play will have a huge factor on whether Union make the playoffs or not.

I don’t think Uhre needs to match the goal and assist performance he had against Red Bulls last Saturday in order for Union to have success, but I do think he needs to be involved in the way Jim Curtin wants him involved on a more frequent basis because of how much room it leaves for Daniel Gazdag.

Daniel Gazdag hasn’t needed to score many goals recently, thanks mostly to Tai Baribo’s 14 goals in 15 games, but Jim Curtin knows that if Mikael Uhre and Daniel Gazdag can get going with him, then he likes Union’s chances against anybody heading down the stretch.

“It’s an important piece to our group and when you see Mikael, and Tai and Danny play like that, I think we’re going to be hard to play against”
-Jim Curtin

Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire