Does Pep Biel need to play the 10 or the wing?

By Brian Maurer

Photo courtesy CJ Hellner/TopBin90

MLS pundit Matt Doyle wrote an article last week discussing five Eastern Conference teams with tactical question marks heading into the 2026 season. One of the teams he is keeping an eye on is Charlotte FC, and more specifically, the positioning of Pep Biel.

The Spanish midfielder has played at both the 10 and as a right winger in Charlotte, and Doyle did not sound convinced that the Crown had found the best way to use him in their attack to complement the other attacking options like Wilfried Zaha and Idan Toklomati.

The majority of Biel's 2025 season was in an attacking midfield role, where he excelled and put up some serious goal contribution numbers before his season ended early due to injury. Most would think Charlotte Head Coach Dean Smith would go right back to playing Biel central as he did last season, to try and get the same level of production, but could that be in question?

Here are some initial thoughts I had based on Doyle's tactical question about Biel's positioning and how to get the best out of the Spaniard and this attack:

Positions on a lineup card don't necessarily mean actual team setup

Doyle's article hints at this as well by saying that Biel would play as an "inverted playmaking rightwinger," but the position on paper would not mean all that much in Biel's case. If he plays as a true 10 or as an inverted right winger, the aim would be the same: get Biel on the ball in central pockets of space in the attacking third so he can create chances for his teammates and himself. Two different positions on the lineup card, but the same aim in terms of where Biel actually does work on the field.

Smith's trust in teammates around Biel will likely play a role in where he lines up

Since the aim for Biel is to get him on the ball in central, dangerous attacking areas, it's less about the Spanish midfielder's play and trust with Smith and more about how the head coach views other teammates around him.

If Smith trusts players like Brandt Bronico and Djibril Diani more than Kerwin Vargas or Liel Abada as the season goes on, then there is an argument for Biel to be positioned as a right winger. If Abada can find some form or Vargas continues to show growth in his game within this group, then the opposite will be true.

This tactical question can easily be a benefit

The signing of Luca de la Torre gives Smith more flexibility in midfield and options to move Biel and other pieces around depending on the game state and opponent, as well as Charlotte's form.

Last season, Biel got hurt, Abada's form dipped, and other midfield options like Eryk Williamson struggled. Smith ranout of options he could trust down the stretch. Because of Biel's flexibility and the addition of de la Torre, this is less likely to happen in 2026.

If we consider Ashley Westwood and de la Torre as locks in the starting XI out of the gate, then Smith still has at least four different directions he can take the midfield. He can slot Diani with them as more of a defensive midfield option. He can add Bronico as more of a box-to-box option, Biel as an attacking facilitator, or Baye Coulibaly could earn himself a role as well.

Because Biel can slot in on the right and still find pockets to get on the ball from there, all of these different midfield set-ups are in play. If Vargas and/or Abada force Smith's hand with strong form and Biel stays central, then Charlotte's Head Coach has even more options at his disposal.

Biel staying at the 10 with no issues on the right wing gives Smith five midfielders (Westwood, de la Torre, Bronico, Diani, and Coulibaly) competing for two spots. When player form dips or injuries occur, Charlotte should feel more comfortable that there are more directions the Crown can take their tactical setup. While it is indeed a question because there are multiple directions Smith could take things, that does not necessarily make the situation a liability. That question can equally mean flexibility as a roster asset.

Inverting centrally is also dependent on the fullback setup

One final thought on all of this is the importance that Harry Toffolo and Nathan Byrne will play in these tactical questions. To have inverting wingers, you generally need overlapping fullbacks that can continue to occupy the wide areas. Towards the end of last year, Toffolo had been playing higher on the left, tilting Wilfried Zaha more centrally. This setup has continued through the first few weeks of preseason.

So far, it looks like Smith is keying in on inverting his wingers a bit more this season to create a more dynamic attack that has an easier time combining in central spaces. It looks like that inversion is coming from the left-hand side with Zaha rather than on the right. Byrne has not been able to get too many preseason reps, which could be one reason for the field tilt. Once the backline is fit, there will be more answers to which of Charlotte's wings inverts more often.

As thing stands, it looks like Charlotte's left inverts, which would mean Biel likely stays central, because you wouldn't want to stick your best chance creator out wide right.

Things could get really interesting if Smith opts to put Biel at rightwing with both wings inverting. This would tuck Zaha and Biel inside with Toklomati and also allow de la Torre to float into this central area with them, putting four of your most technically dangerous players in proximity to each other in one of the most dangerous areas on the field (see tactical board below).

This option leaves a lot of openings defensively, but it is one of the reasons Smith would need more defensive ground cover in midfield to pull this off effectively.

In sum, Smith has options, which leads to questions, which could be a good thing

Smith's options in midfield and attacking lines should give him plenty of different directions he can go. Biel will obviously be at the center of the final decisions, regardless of position. The primary question will be whether Smith can utilize these different options to maximize the group's potential and lead them to trophies and/or qualification for the CONCACAF Champions Cup.