MLS
Tata Martino confirms Lionel Messi will start for Inter Miami against Nashville in MLS
The Argentine coach announced that Messi will return to the starting lineup for this Wednesday’s clash against Nashville SC.
Inter Miami head coach, Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino, has confirmed that Lionel Messi, after being rested, will start the MLS game against Nashville SC.
After starting his stateside journey in the most perfect way possible, winning the Leagues Cup and getting to the US Open Cup Final, Lionel Messi is preparing for a new challenge with Inter Miami: MLS.
Now, as the MLS season kicks off after the stoppage, the opponent in his way will be a well-known foe, as The Herons, who have just announced their new stadium, Miami Freedom Park, host Nashville SC at the DRV PNK Stadium, the team they narrowly defeated in the Leagues Cup final just a couple of weeks ago at Geodis Park.
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Messi ‘will start’, says Tata Martino
After Lionel Messi was rested during the visit to the New York Red Bulls, everything points towards him being ready to return to the starting lineup, as Tata Martino revealed: “The game [Messi] needed to recover was during the last one in New York, just like Busquets. If there is no problem, he will start against Nashville”, Martino announced.
It is now expected that Messi will be playing from the first whistle as Inter Miami look to get a second consecutive win in MLS, which will drive them on as they look to achieve the nearly-impossible task of reaching the playoff places. Then again, with Leo in their side, nothing is impossible for the players in pink.
Inter Miami, a team made for Messi
As for the positive results that Inter Miami have achieved since the arrival of Messi, the Argentine coach stressed the importance of being able to build a team capable of supporting the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, and how his system can make the former Barcelona and PSG star more comfortable in the setup.
“Having Messi, it is very difficult not to design the team around him to achieve his best form. We always think about how he can have a greater impact on the game and in that sense we are doing well. The rest of the players understand the idea of exploiting Leo’s abilities without ceasing to be a team”, stated Martino.
Messi’s Miami face Nashville (which you can follow on AS USA) before taking on LAFC in a hugely anticipated game that has seen ticket prices soar yet again.