After falling mid -week to Los Angeles FC in Concacaf Champions CupThe From Miami returned to Ml play on Sunday against Toronto FC with all their stars in the field. After the match, Head coach Javier Mascherano explained why he chose not to rest Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez despite the threatening second stage on Wednesday.
Fans were surprised when the starting lineup was announced, With Marquee -Name like Messi, Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets. Many people expected Mascherano to rotate their squad to keep players fresh for the decisive Champions Cup quarter finals. At his press conference after the match, the Argentine coach gave a direct explanation:
“First and foremost, Busquets can’t play on Wednesday. Then, within the rotations we wanted to do, we thought – based on our conversations and how they have known – it These are players who, in addition to their age, have played every three days throughout their lives. They are used to itand I thought we needed to make changes in other positions. “
Mascherano Also emphasized that he never planned to take the game easily, even with a decisive fixture on the horizon. “People may have been surprised, but the past I said it wasn’t in my plans to throw away this game. We did not get the result we wanted, which was to win and go in on Wednesday in the best form, But when it comes to rotations, those did we believe rest“He said.
Among the star players only Luis Suarez was replacedMake room for Debutant Allen Annando. Messi, Alba and Busquets played each 90 minutes. By buses suspended for Wednesday’s collision, Inter Miami’s other veterans will meet LAFC with heavy workloads.
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Winning the Champions Cup is still one of Inter Miami’s highest priorities this season, but 1-0 first bone loss to LAFC has put its campaign in danger. Sunday’s 1-1 draw against TorontoThe third worst team in the MLS position (3 points from 7 matches), only increased to growing concerns about the team’s form.
Given the decisive second stage, Mascherano took his team’s questions: “We were not aggressive when it came to defending. It’s hard when you keep making the same mistake –We were disconnected during many phases of the match, and if we don’t understand it we will suffer as we did today. “
He ended with a warning to his players about the importance of staying locked up. “With one last like the one we have on Wednesday, unless we are turned on from beginning to end– 95, 100 minute regulation time and even more if there is extra time –It will be tough. This is the best proof that football is not about the past, it is about the present“He concluded.
