One of many conditions that raised questions at Inter Miami was the absence of star Lionel Messi from the squad record for the MLS match towards FC Dallas. With the second leg towards the Vancouver Whitecaps on the horizon, head coach Javier Mascherano addressed Messi’s standing for Wednesday’s essential recreation.
Inter Miami suffered their first defeat of the 2025 MLS season in an exhilarating 4-3 loss to Dallas at Chase Stadium, with a number of key gamers lacking from the roster. Within the post-match press convention, Mascherano was requested about Messi’s health and supplied an optimistic replace.
“Leo is doing effectively. Clearly, we determined — identical to with different teammates — to relaxation him after a recreation just like the one towards Vancouver, performed on artificial turf, and a six- or seven-hour round-trip flight,” Mascherano defined, providing refined perception into Messi’s absence.
“At present he skilled, and he skilled effectively, so he’ll be prepared,” Mascherano added, referring to Sunday’s coaching session. Messi was seen within the stands alongside his household and Luis Suarez — who was additionally held out of the sport — displaying their assist for the workforce.
Inter Miami misplaced their unbeaten report in MLS, with Mascherano taking accountability for the loss after a collection of second-half substitutions. Now, with all the workforce’s stars anticipated to be accessible, the coach is targeted on orchestrating one other comeback — this time towards the Vancouver Whitecaps.
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Mascherano goals to dominate the Whitecaps
Inter Miami are making their first-ever look within the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals, however their path to the ultimate suffered a significant setback after the Whitecaps earned a 2-0 win at BC Place final Thursday. Regardless of the difficult scenario, Mascherano stays assured about overturning the deficit.
“We’re trailing on the scoreboard, and on Wednesday now we have to return in with the assumption that we will come again — understanding there’s nothing to lose, solely every little thing to achieve,” Mascherano acknowledged. “From the primary minute, we have to take the sport to Vancouver by means of our play, as a result of with out taking part in effectively, it’s very exhausting to overturn a consequence like this,” he added.
The coach emphasised the significance of staying composed and sticking to their taking part in fashion: “We have to depend on our recreation, attempt to dominate, give attention to what we will do, and focus on scoring the primary objective — after which let the remainder occur. However not with the mindset of speeding for the second or third objective with out getting the primary. If we keep true to ourselves, we’ll have a whole lot of probabilities.”
Inter Miami already pulled off a comeback within the Champions Cup quarterfinals towards Los Angeles FC. The Herons discover themselves trailing once more, however with Lionel Messi and the opposite stars totally rested, Mascherano believes one other comeback is effectively inside attain.
