Messi will NOT play vs Orlando City: Mascherano prioritizes recovery

Messi will miss the match against Orlando City due to injury

Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano confirmed that Lionel Messi will not travel with the team to face Orlando City on Sunday night. Mascherano admitted that it would be too great a risk for the player due to the tight schedule. Messi suffered a “small” muscle injury in his right leg during the Leagues Cup match against Necaxa on August 2, which forced him to leave the field. Messi’s recovery time is not yet determined, and the club announced that progress will depend on the response to treatment.

“No, Leo will not be available tomorrow. Leo is fine, but obviously it would be crazy to run the risk of taking him to Orlando because of everything that is coming. We are optimistic that he will return to us soon”, said Mascherano.

Javier Mascherano

Inter Miami will face Orlando City on Sunday, before hosting LA Galaxy on August 16 and playing the Leagues Cup quarter-finals just three days later.

The team qualified for the Leagues Cup knockout round after accumulating eight points in three first-phase matches, reaching second place in the table. Inter Miami triumphed against Pumas and Atlas, and tied 2-2 against Necaxa before winning the penalty shootout, which gave the MLS club the extra point that propelled them to the quarterfinals. Now, Inter Miami will face Tigres UANL on August 20th.

“Tigres is a great team, they showed it last night against Puebla, it’s a team with players of hierarchy that always fights for important things in their league and internationally”, commented Mascherano.

Javier Mascherano

“We did what we could to qualify, we almost couldn’t be leaders, but now we will try to focus on the next two MLS games and then we will focus on the Leagues Cup match.” Given the schedule, Mascherano insists on taking all necessary precautions to protect the health of each player, prioritizing victory.

“We play to win, and to win every game. If we have the possibility of finishing the regular season in first place, it would be great, it’s good in terms of the advantages that can be had in the playoffs, but we already saw last year that [having home advantage] doesn’t mean anything. But our idea is to treat the remaining 12 MLS games to win all 12. If we have the possibility of playing the three Leagues Cup games, to win the Leagues Cup. And go game by game. The demand and responsibility in this club is to go out and win every game we play,” assured the coach.

Javier Mascherano