Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino, Inter Miami coach, referred to Lionel Messi’s participation this Saturday in the match against the New York Red Bulls, which would mark the Argentine star’s debut in MLS, and considered that “sometimes you have to convince him to stop” given the high number of consecutive games he has played in recent weeks in the Leagues Cup and in the US Open Cup.
Read also: They revealed Lionel Messi’s requirement to get along with his Inter Miami teammates: “I was surprised”
“I understand the expectations that everyone has to see it. It is undeniable, but I cannot act based on that, because if not, I would run the risk of doing things wrong,” Martino said at the press conference prior to Inter Miami’s visit to the Red Bulls.
Martino, about Messi: “Sometimes you have to make him stop and convince him”
“There is a question, he always wants to play every game, and sometimes you have to make him stop and convince him to stop, precisely so that he can recover. Everything external is not something that I take into account when it comes to understanding if he has to play or not, ”added the Rosario coach.
After Messi scored ten goals in his first eight games with Inter Miami, won the Leagues Cup and qualified for the US Open Cup final, there is enormous expectation for the presence of the Argentine captain in MLS and the tickets for the duel from this Saturday they have a higher price every minute in the resale.
Martino, about Messi: “Sometimes you have to make him stop and convince him” (Photo: Reuters).
“The soccer players arrive very tired, in Cincinnati (in the cup semifinal won on penalties) it is the first game that I have observed that a team is tired, not only at the end, but also at the beginning, I saw it because of the circulation of the ball. That gives you a reason to be attentive. But we played so many games because we were able to reach the final. That when it comes to resuming the league is something that weighs, ”Martino acknowledged.
Playing without Messi, a challenge for which Inter Miami is preparing
Apart from Messi’s eventual rest days due to energy management, Martino stressed that his club must prepare for when the Argentine leaves to play the National Team’s commitments.
“At some point this is going to happen, also when I go to play the commitments of the National Team. We have to look for a team that can keep going even in the face of Lionel’s huge loss. This at least three times during this year will happen. Somehow we will have to anticipate the situation, ”he said.
Inter Miami, bottom in the East with only 18 points in 22 games, faces MLS with the aim of coming back and advancing to the postseason.
“Now we can start to think and talk about what the chances we have represent, we must compete to try to take them and see if we can get to the end of the regular season among the last classified,” said Martino.
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2023-08-26 01:48:22
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