MLS
Gary Smith talks Nashville, Leagues Cup, Lionel Messi and more...
Ahead of the clash between Inter Miami and Nashville, head coach Gary Smith spoke about taking on Tata Martino’s side again.
Just over a week after the Leagues Cup final, in which Inter Miami beat Nashville SC on penalties, the two sides will go head-to-head once again.
On Wednesday, they will meet in the Eastern Conference, and ahead of the clash, Nashville head coach Gary Smith spoke about taking on Tata Martino’s side.
“We did a fabulous job against them in the final. There will be different dynamics and difficulties in Miami itself. But I do think the guys will have an awful lot of confidence from what was achieved in the final. Not just, of course, the result, but also the way the game was played out and, of course, in the end, how well we did to limit not just Lionel Messi, but the group in general, to chances,” Smith said in his pre-match press conference.
The English coach added: “Make no mistake, it will be a very difficult test in their own backyard. We will be ready for that. There will be some added incentive after the weekend. It’s really about clarifying, focusing and preparing our minds for Miami again”.
He also mentioned Inter’s “terrific win at the weekend”, in which “for the first time they rotated the team, so we expect that those guys who didn’t make it on Saturday will be back in the starting lineup”.
Messi to start for Inter Miami
Lionel Messi will start for Inter Miami on Wednesday, as confirmed by head coach Tata Martino. For Nashville, Fafa Picault returns after serving a suspension and captain Walker Zimmerman is a doubt due to an injury.
Smith’s praise for Messi after final
The Nashville tactician had some praise for Messi after the Leagues Cup final. “This is the first time I’ve seen Messi play live. And what became clear to me is that there are times in the game when you just can’t play against him,” he explained.
“It’s not for an extended period, it’s not for 90 minutes. There are exact moments where he just comes alive and it’s almost impossible to stop him. To be completely honest, if it wasn’t for him, we would have won. The goal he scored is just unbelievable, out of nowhere. And his only other shot on goal hit the post.”