MLS
Tata Martino hints at using the same Inter Miami team against LA Galaxy
The Inter Miami coach spoke cryptically about which players were set to play for Inter Miami against LA Galaxy
Optimism is high at Inter Miami’s training ground: starting the 2024 MLS season with a victory against Real Salt Lake has hugely helped the team to continue with their preparations to face their first away match, against the LA Galaxy (KO Sunday 25 February 2024, 8:30pm ET/5:30pm PT.).
As part of the final preparation for this match, this Friday, Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino spoke at a press conference with the media, including AS USA, and gave an update on the fitness of his players ahead of the tough match against LA Galaxy.
The main news with Inter Miami is that the entire team trained normally this Friday, including Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, meaning that, at this stage, their participation against LA Galaxy is not in danger.
Martino sees ‘no reason to change’ after RSL win
“As of today we are not even 48 hours after the last game and they have to complete their recovery, but yesterday all four were fine (Messi, Suarez, Busquets and Alba),” added Martino.
In addition, Martino revealed that if everything goes according to plan and the squad show signs of recovery from the match against Real Salt Lake, it is likely that the same team that started in the victory last Wednesday could be repeated for Sunday’s visit to Dignity Health Sports Park.
“There would be no reason to change if we didn’t have to take in account that we played three days ago, so we have to be prudent, but there is a chance [that he could repeat the same XI that won against Real Salt Lake],” acknowledged the Argentine coach when asked by AS.
‘Everyone trained normally’, says Tata
This decision about the team that will play on Sunday will be debated by the coaching staff until the last minute, as Martino prefers to oversee the recovery of his players and then decide what happens in the final session prior to Inter Miami’s clash, in this case, against LA Galaxy.
“Within what each group should do, everyone went out and trained normally. Afterwards, we will evaluate the condition of each player in Los Angeles and at tomorrow’s training session in order to make up the team,” he added.
The goal for Inter Miami is clear: the team will try to bag as many points as possible in these first few days, knowing that in the coming weeks they will also begin their adventure in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, where an old foe awaits, something which will force them to spread out the minutes on the pitch across the squad, given the obvious wear and tear that the two competitions will generate.
However, for Martino, the match against LA Galaxy is what looms on the horizon. Without delving too much into the rival team, the Argentine acknowledged that it will be a complicated trip because of what the Los Angeles team historically represent within the league; he also hinted at the respect Inter Miami have for the record MLS Cup winner.
“The evaluations I make of the teams in the league always make reference to the fact that there are even rules, meaning everyone has a chance. The tournament is just starting and everyone has the dream of having good tournaments, of entering the playoffs, of fighting for the championship. And LA Galaxy is one of the most historic franchises in MLS and we are going to play away against their fans: it will be an extremely difficult match”, concluded the Herons’ coach.