2023-06-29
The Argentine Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino assured this Thursday, in his presentation press conference as the new coach of Inter Miami, that he spoke with the Argentine Lionel Messi and the Spanish Sergio Busquets and that they all agree on the challenge of “come to Miami to to be successful”, and stressed that in his mentality there is no “luxury of not competing”.
“We may be in different places, but the way to carry out this race will be only one. Yesterday I spoke with Sergio, and also when we spoke with Leo, we talked about coming to be successful, to compete, to compete well. That happens to us even on a personal level. Sometimes Miami is associated with vacations, we want to compete”, stated Martino at the press conference organized at the DVR PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale (USA).
“They come from world champions, champions in the Spanish league, they are not footballers who are going to come here not to compete, they are not going to give themselves that luxury because they carry it in their blood,” he added.
Martino already trained Messi at Barcelona in the 2013-2014 academic year and in the Argentine team (2014-2016). He also coincided with Busquets in his stage at Barcelona.
The Argentine coach stressed that the negotiations to lead Inter Miami began before the club closed the signings of Messi and Busquets, additions that the coach defined as “gifts.”
“I started the talks before Messi and Busquets and then Leo and Sergio started happening later. This opportunity always seemed attractive to me, ”he said.
With Messi in the center, a brain like Busquets and the experience of ‘Tata’ Martino on the bench, the club intends to take its football to another galaxy and leave behind a forgotten start to the season, which sees it bottom in the East of the MLS, with seven consecutive defeats, a tremendous defensive fragility and a forward that averages less than one goal per game.
“People always demand immediate results. The circumstances are what they are. Today we have a problem, I told the players that now we are part of the problem and hopefully soon we will be part of the solution. We have high expectations. We probably need some time,” Martino said.
“In 2023 there are nice challenges. One is to see if we can reach the ‘playoffs’, today it looks like something far away, but as long as we have chances we can’t stop trying. The US Open Cup sees us in a privileged position (semifinals) and there is also a new cup (the Leagues Cup between MLS and Liga MX clubs) that gives us great enthusiasm, ”he continued.
Martino insisted that he loves MLS, because of its variety of weather conditions, because of its regulations when it comes to transfers (with a salary limit) and because of his constant ambition for growth.
“That the best player in the world (referring to Messi) decides to come and play in this league will open up a new panorama,” he said.
We will still have to wait for Martino, Messi and Busquets to make their debut, as the club is finalizing the process to get their work visas.
“Everything was delivered, we are working on the visa, hopefully in the next five or six days he will be able to work,” said Chris Henderson, Inter Miami sports director.
“About Leo, we are working with the documentation, it will take a while, but we are confident that in the middle or end of July he can play, it depends on the documentation,” he added.
Martino, 60, already has MLS experience, having managed Atlanta United in its first two years in the league and winning the 2018 MLS Cup.
With Messi and Busquets at Barcelona, Martino won a Spanish Super Cup. The Argentine lost the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid at the Mestalla, when the Welshman Gareth Bale signed one of the best goals of his Madrid period, and finished second in the League, won by Atlético Madrid.
In addition, the Argentine coach directed Messi from 2014 to 2016 in the Albiceleste team. He reached two consecutive Copa América finals, both lost against Chile. His record with Argentina ended with twenty wins, five losses and four draws.
2023-06-29 18:59:00
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