After a strong start to their continental campaign, Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will start MLS’s regular season on Saturday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, against a New York City FC page that can meet to replace its most influential players.
Messi scored a brilliant goal for the second half to lift Miami to a 1-0 victory at Sporting Kansas City under the Liberal Conditions in Bone 1 of their Concacaf Champions Cup first round series on Wednesday evening.
New Inter Miami Manager Javier Mascherano left Midwest heard from the attitude his team showed under serious relationships against an opponent who was not expected to trouble the hedges.
“I am very proud of my team because they gave me 100 percent intensity with a lot of attitude. We are happy,” Mascherano said. “We are at half time of the first round, and now we will try to rest after a very difficult game for us. Now we think and look forward to Saturday’s MLS season opener.”
Messi played the whole match and Luis Suarez went to minute 90 before making a late exit. Both appear to be fully available for Saturday, and the hedges can also get influential Fullback Jordi Alba back from minor injury.
At the same time, in the first year NYCFC Manager Pascal Jansen Costa Rica hopes for Alonso Martinez to build on his breakout 16-goal season 2024.
However, New York City may be without the influential player Santi Rodriguez, who is generally reported to be on their way to Brazil’s Botafogo for a transfer fee worth approximately $ 17 million. It is unclear whether Rodriguez will participate in NYCFC on Saturday.
On the other side of the field, New York City’s attempt to turn off the dynamic Miami attack will be made more difficult through defender James Sands, who moved to Germany’s St. Pauli in a loan agreement on January 1st.
When it comes to coaching in MLS, Jansen knows that he will not find many tougher assignments than to meet Messi, Suarez and the rest of Miami’s talented list on the road.
“You have to be really careful when Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi are, because it’s the guys who will make the difference,” Jansen said. “In the installation, Sergio Busquets is also very important. If Jordi Alba plays he is a very dominant figure on the left side.”
-Field level media
