Tata Martino explains Inter Miami’s defeat to Monterrey in CONCACAF Champions Cup

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami suffered a harrowing defeat at the hands of Liga MX team Monterrey in the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-finals, despite the Argentina captain playing 90 minutes for the first time since recovering from a recent hamstring issue. Following the game in Mexico, Herons coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino attempted to explain what went wrong for his team.

Inter Miami’s slump after good start to 2024

The former Barcelona boss was asked if Miami’s intense preseason schedule, which saw them play matches all over the world, had had any bearing on their start to the season, which has tailed off after a promising opening, with no wins in five matches.

“The tour was part of preseason. We didn’t have our full roster there, and we still don’t have it now. It was a bit irregular in terms of the squad with which we travelled and with which we ended up playing the games. In MLS, we’ve had good moments and bad moments, but we’re in among the top teams.

“We have dropped some points at home, but I think we are competing well and, above all, we are picking up points. Exactly the opposite happened to us last year and we suffered in the second half of the season. We competed very well against Nashville (in the round of 16) and again in the first game against Monterrey. I think today too, up until Berterame’s goal (to make it 2-0 after 58 minutes). That killed the tie, I think,” Martino explained.

Martino: “Monterrey deserved winners”

The 61-year-old expressed his belief his team were well in the game but conceded they had ultimately been beaten by the better team.

“We thought Monterrey playing with two strikers meant it would be easier for us to have the ball a little more. We said that if they scored, we would not have to change they way we were playing because we would still need two goals anyway. What totally took us out of game was the second goal 15 minutes into the second half, that’s what I think killed us off”.

“I think we did well in the first half. We lacked a little bit of a threat in behind but we controlled the ball for long spells. We knew they were going to play into spaces, especially having two forwards like the ones they had in central positions, but it is also true that we lacked a threat in behind. Monterrey winning over two legs was a fair result, in the end,” the Inter Miami coach conceded.

Why does Liga MX dominate MLS in the Concachampions?

Martino finished by seeking to explain why Liga MX clubs continue to dominate over MLS teams in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

“Today’s defeat means a dream is over. We wanted to progress in this competition and to be able to do what Columbus Crew did yesterday here in Monterrey. Mexico’s very best teams are playing in this year’s Concachampions. I’m speaking about América, Monterrey and Tigres. I don’t include Pachuca in that because their philosophy is built on bringing through very young players.”

“These three teams normally have the biggest stars and are really very strong teams. As long as the MLS does not relax the rules a little to allow us to have bigger rosters squads to cover for injuries and suspensions, Mexican teams will obviously still have an advantage,” the Argentina warned MLS bosses.