MLS
Gerardo Martino insists Inter Miami “won’t do anything crazy” to break MLS points record
In Friday’s press conference, the Argentine coach stressed that the team’s main focus is the start of the MLS playoffs.
The MLS regular season reaches its conclusion this weekend with all the games to be played on Saturday. One of the six games getting the action underway is Inter Miami’s against the New England Revolution - a special one for the Herons, firstly, as they will be in front of their own fans at Chase Stadium, and also because the team will have the chance to make history.
Having already secured their qualification to the postseason as well as first place in the Eastern Conference, Tata Martino’s men could break the record for the most points during a Major League Soccer regular season. To do so, they require a win.
And purely by coincidence, they will be up against the team who currently holds that record - New England set it in 2021 after finishing with 73 points. Going into Saturday’s game, Inter Miami are on 71.
Having players fit for the playoffs is Inter Miami’s priority
However, in today’s press conference, Martino assured that despite the record being in their hands, they will not risk too much to obtain it as the playoffs, which for his team will begin next weekend, are the priority. The coach wants his star players Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez et al in the best possible shape for the postseason.
“We have it within our reach. But if you ask me or you asked me on January 20th if we were going to achieve the points record and we had just been outside the playoffs, it seemed like an illogical question, but now we have it within our reach, what we are not going to do is do anything crazy about it, because six days later we will start to play the most important game and above all I have to be very careful,” the coach acknowledged.
Martino casts doubt on Messi's presence against New England Revolution
Martino insisted that Saturday’s game against New England is important in the quest to reach a points record, however, he hinted that the participation of Messi and the other four players who were active during the recent international window is in doubt. He is deliberating whether to give them a rest with the playoffs on the horizon.
“Regarding tomorrow, the match is important because we set ourselves objectives and this is an objective that we had not thought about since the beginning of the season and now that we are close to it we will try to achieve it. Of course, the main focus is on next Friday and based on that we will analyze what participation we can give to the players who came from the national teams, including Leo,” he concluded.
The 2014 MLS regular season matchday 34 game between Inter Miami and the New England Revolution will take place at Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale on Saturday 19 October, kicking off at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT. Viewers in the US can watch the match on Apple TV - MLS Season Pass.