Charlotte FC 2023 Season Preview

Tom Bogert

2023 Schedule

Strength: Under Christian Lattanzio, they installed a City Football Group-inspired system with an emphasis on pitch control that, even with short notice, underperforming Designated Players and a rotating cast of midfielders and defenders, looked pretty damn good pretty damn quickly.
Weakness: Two of their DPs are massive question marks for one, for two they did not get a ton of productivity from the wings (which is deadly for any team that runs a 4-2-3-1), and for three Kristijan Kahlina really, really struggled in goal during his first MLS season.

A tragedy that shook Charlotte and the MLS community this winter, Anton Walkes passed away last month at the age of 25. May we all bring as much joy and love to life.

Jordy Alcívar: A Young DP midfielder, Jordy Alcívar didn’t quite move the needle in MLS. He transferred to Ecuador’s Independiente del Valle after 20 appearances (10 starts) last season.
Daniel Ríos: Mexican striker Daniel Ríos came on strong towards the end of last season before being transferred to Liga MX’s Chivas this winter (Ríos is a product of their academy). With Enzo Copetti joining, playing time would have been tough to come by.

Enzo Copetti: A hard-working, goal-scoring No. 9 arrived in Charlotte this winter when the second-year club acquired Copetti from Racing Club. Impactful both in attack and defense with his pressing, the Designated Player had 21g/5a in 47 appearances in Argentina last year.
Ashley Westwood: This veteran English midfielder arrives with a decade’s-worth of experience in the Premier League (286 appearances between Aston Villa and Burnley). Ashley Westwood, 32, is especially strong on set pieces and spraying long passes.
Bill Tuiloma: Charlotte made a significant addition to their defensive core by acquiring defender Bill Tuiloma in a trade with Portland. Tuiloma, 27, has made more than 100 MLS appearances thus far. Charlotte also added to the defense by way of No. 1 MLS SuperDraft selection Hamady Diop.
Full roster