Inter Miami targeting all four trophies this season

For Inter Miami, the objectives in 2024 are crystal clear. The Fort Lauderdale-based franchise knows it and have been straightforward about expressing it. In Friday’s press conference prior to this weekend’s MLS matchday 2 clash against Orlando City, coach Gerardo Martino told the media about his team’s commitments and even obligations during the new campaign.

Messi’s Inter Miami keen to add to their silverware collection

Martino reasoned that because of the star-studded squad he is fortunate to be in charge of and the quality of his players, Inter Miami should not settle for just one tournament this year. In fact, he very openly expressed his intention to compete in, and aim to win, all of the tournaments his team is involved in, without prioritizing any one of them.

The Herons are involved in four competitions in 2024: the MLS, Concacaf Champions Cup, Leagues Cup and US Open Cup in order of importance. The team tops the Eastern Conference on four points after the first two games and are battling on two fronts in what will be a busy week with Orlando City on MLS matchday 3 this weekend followed by the first leg of the Champions Cup Round of 16 against Nashville.

“We have tried to put together a squad that will allow us to be competitive on all fronts,” Martino told reporters. “Then, of course, you (the press) after seeing the lineups of one match compared to another, draw your own conclusions. What we are trying to do is win the league, and the Concachampions. We are getting stronger. We have a more competitive team and for that reason, we have the obligation not to leave any competition aside”.

No concern with Messi, Suárez, Busquets and Alba

Another point that Martino addressed at the press conference concerned his four star players, the so-called ‘Fantastic Four’, AKA Messi, Suárez, Busquets and Jordi Alba who were recently spotted training apart from the main group, which opened up all kinds of speculation. Busquets has been struggling with an ankle issue for some time although he lined up alongside the other three in both of the league games so far, against Real Salt Lake and LA Galaxy.

Martino attempted to quell rumors by assuring that it is part of the process and the way in which Inter Miami works, effectively ruling out any major risks or other issues regarding his stars ahead of two vitally important games which the Herons have on the horizon. Players have different ways of maintaining their fitness or require other kinds of warm-up routunes.

“The jobs are divided, it is even part of a recovery period. Some recover in the gym, others go out onto the practice pitches. Some players need to do light training or warming down exercises, others do a specific job... nothing particular and it coincided that it was seen at that moment that the four of them were together doing a different job from the rest,” the coach concluded.