Javier Mascherano reveals the one problem with having Lionel Messi in the team

The last week and a half has been a whirlwind for Inter Miami fans, who have their seen their smooth start to the season hit choppy water.

Earlier this week they were eliminated from the Concacaf Champions League, losing home and away to Vancouver Whitecaps. In between those games was an MLS clash with FC Dallas, in which Miami took a 3-1 lead but went on to lose 4-3.

This drop in form comes as Lionel Messi is going through a mini-drought, failing to score or assist in any of his last four appearances for Miami. At a press conference on Friday head coach Javier Mascherano was asked whether his team had become too reliant on Messi. The 40-year-old laughed off the suggestion.

“Teams have been dependent on Messi,” Mascherano told reporters. “[Pep] Guardiola’s Barcelona was dependent for years, Luis Enrique’s Barcelona, Valverde’s Barcelona, and the Argentina national team for 15 or 20 years.”

“In other words, when you have a player like Messi, you’re clearly going to develop a dependency on him. It’s impossible not to depend on him,” he continued.

“It’s clear that there are days when the team perhaps helps him more and other days when it helps him less.”

Next up for the Herons, a meeting with last year’s MLS Cup finalists, New York Red Bulls, on Saturday evening. Miami have now dropped to fifth in the Eastern Conference standings, although they have played one game fewer than their rivals. For the Red Bulls, Saturday’s game is a chance to replicate 2024’s shock win over the Herons and go level with them in the standings.

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