MLS
LA Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig sends Lionel Messi warning ahead of Inter Miami game in MLS
The former Barcelona teammates will come face to face when the Galaxy host The Herons in their first MLS 2024 fixture on Sunday.
LA Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig has issued a warning to the Californians after former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez helped Inter Miami get off a running against Real Salt Lake at Chase Stadium on the opening night of the 2024 MLS season.
Gerardo “Tata” Martino’s team put their difficult preseason aside to see off RSL as the proper stuff got underway, with Robert Taylor and Diego Gómez finding the net as they secured their first three points of the league campaign.
The Galaxy will face The Herons in their first game of the new season and will be desperate to put last year behind them. Greg Vanney’s team missed out on the MLS Cup Playoffs after collecting just 36 points from 34 matches, finishing second bottom of the Western Conference.
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What did the Galaxy’s Riqui Puig say about ex-Barça teammate Lionel Messi?
Following Douglas Costa’s departure, ex-Barça midfielder Puig has been handed the number 10 jersey, a reflection of the important role he will have to play for the Los Angeles side this term. The 24 year old spoke to the media ahead of facing Inter Miami and has no doubt about which player LA Galaxy need to stop if they are to come out on top.
“He is obviously the best player of all time and I think he’s the best player in the league now too. On Wednesday against Real Salt Lake, he showed how well he’s playing and that he’s in good shape physically. We have to be very careful with the best player in the world,” explained Puig.
Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson will be the venue for LA Galaxy against Inter Miami on Sunday (kick-off at 9pm ET), a clash in which the two teams will be desperate to forget all about last season’s disappointing performances behind them. Both have set their sights on qualifying for the playoffs and, from there, fight for the MLS Cup.