Messi, ‘touch and go’ for Leagues Cup clash against Tigres claims Mascherano
The Argentine coach confirmed Messi’s absence from Tuesday’s training session but failed to rule the striker out of Wednesday’s match.
Inter Miami are preparing to face probably one of the most important matches of the season to date. Javier Mascherano’s Herons face Guido Pizarro’s Tigres in search of a place in the semifinals of the 2025 Leagues Cup with Miami looking to bag the title for the second time after their win over Nashville SC in 2023.
At present, there is uncertainty about the presence of Lionel Messi starting for the MLS side after the 38-year-old felt some muscular discomfort after the league game against LA Galaxy over the weekend.
In the press conference before the match, Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano confirmed Messi’s absence from training on Tuesday and indicated that he is not ruled out; however, his presence is not guaranteed and will be determined in the hours before the match on Wednesday.
“Leo didn’t train with the group, he trained separately. It was a bit of a situation where he felt some discomfort after the 45 minutes he played. We’ll see how things transpire, but he’s not ruled out, I can’t say if he’s going to play or not and will all depend on how he feels” Mascherano stated.
Mascherano on importance of Tigres clash
Regarding Wednesday’s match, Javier Mascherano analyzed Tigres, one of the powerhouses in Liga MX.
“They are a team that has a lot of offensive power, I am one of the coaches who, beyond focusing on the characteristics of the players depending on the match, I believe that defensively we have to defend in terms of the system. It does not depend on one or two players as a collective. It is not going to vary from what we have been doing and the objective is to be able to neutralize Tigres, to be able to be protagonists and to be able to play the match at our pace and that is how we have a greater chance of beating Tigres”, explained Masche in the press conference.
Mascherano showers Ángel Correa with praise
Finally, the Inter Miami coach recognized the quality that Ángel Correa has and how decisive he can be for a team like Tigres, since he is multifaceted in attack with the Argentine coach looking for a plan to try to neutralize the world champion.
“Clearly Ángel is a key player, in fact I think he is a key signing for Tigres’ future aspirations and he is a player who can do a lot of damage. Undetectable at times, he can play on the outside, he can play as a striker, he knows how to find space and that is where we can neutralize him, not only individually but also as a collective idea. We will try to neutralize him, to understand that this is where the game is going, but with the idea of playing, of setting the pace of the game and from that point on taking the lead,” he concluded.
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.