Javier Mascherano responded to criticism of Inter Miami’s reliance on Lionel Messi following the team’s elimination from the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Inter Miami, led by Lionel Messi, returned to training under head coach Javier Mascherano after a tough loss in the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals against the Vancouver Whitecaps. With morale low, the team is now turning its focus to the upcoming MLS clash with the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, May 3.
Before practice, Mascherano spoke with reporters, addressing concerns about the team’s reliance on Messi and reflecting on the recent string of disappointing performances.
“For 20 years, teams have depended on Messi,” Mascherano said. “Barcelona depended on him—with Guardiola, with Luis Enrique, with Valverde. The Argentine national team has relied on him for 15 or 20 years. It’s impossible not to depend on him. Of course, there are days when the team supports him more, and others when it supports him less”.
Mascherano acknowledged the criticism but urged perspective. “I understand people want blood right now. There are aspects of the internal analysis I agree with—I’m not here to say everything is fine after being eliminated from a final we were so excited to play,” he continued.
“We’ve lost three games in three days, so there’s obviously a lot to improve. But I’m not going to lose my mind or see everything negatively,” Mascherano added. “This is a time to swallow the bitterness, keep our heads down, work hard, and strengthen as a group”.
Defending Inter Miami’s stars
Mascherano also defended his players, particularly high-profile stars like Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, who faced criticism following the Vancouver loss.
“I’m not going to evaluate players publicly. The most sacred thing in soccer is the players. Evaluations are made privately. Judging a player based on one match seems unfair to me. Two weeks ago, everything was great—everything was Disney. I’m not one to swing from one extreme to the other,” Mascherano explained.
Mascherano about Sergio Busquets’ future plans
In defending Sergio Busquets specifically, Mascherano revealed a notable shift in the Spanish midfielder’s mindset about his career. “I don’t agree with the criticism because Busquets is having a great season. In my opinion, he’s one of the team’s best players. Talking to him, he feels great and very happy. I’d even go as far as to say he wants to keep playing—something he wasn’t sure about last year,” Mascherano said.
What’s next for Inter Miami?
The Concacaf Champions Cup exit was a major blow for Inter Miami, which had its sights set on lifting the trophy for the first time in club history. Now, the Messi-led squad must regroup and focus on the MLS season.
Inter Miami currently sits fifth in the Eastern Conference standings with 18 points, just ahead of the New York Red Bulls, who have 15 points. Their next match, on Saturday, April 3, will be critical as they prepare for a seven-game stretch in MLS play before their FIFA Club World Cup debut. Miami will face Palmeiras, Al Ahly, and Porto in the group stage of the tournament.
From: bolavip.com
