What did Inter Miami boss Tata Martino say during MLS Media Day?

Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino, coach of Inter Miami, was clear about the ideals he is pursuing for the 2024 season in MLS and international competitions with The Herons.

During the ‘MLS Media Day’, held in Miami, where our correspondent in that city, Fernando Petrocelli, was present, the Herons’ coach was candid and downplayed the significance of big names in his squad for the upcoming season. He emphasised that his primary focus is on the collective effort and achieving significant success.

Martino emphasised his intention to avoid overconfidence within the squad and dismissed the notion that relying solely on the team’s name, history, and past achievements would guarantee success this season.

‘I know that we will eventually assemble a very talented team’

“I really like the NBA; before, super teams were built around two players, then it became three, and now they consist of four, and it’s still challenging for them to win. I know that we will eventually assemble a very talented team that will require us to compete at a high level. We are aware of the challenges this poses for our rivals, and we must prepare for that.”

“Our success will be guaranteed only if we prepare ourselves well”, he continued, “and refrain from believing that we can achieve it solely by assembling players with a notable history and past. The teams that emerge victorious are the ones that assemble the best players, and that is precisely what we are preparing for,” explained the coach.

Suárez or Campana: who will play?

On the other hand, Martino revealed that it is likely, at some point in the season, that he may choose to form an attacking duo between Luis Suárez and Leonardo Campana. He also assured that both players will receive playing time due to the multiple competitions they will face this year.

“We have two centre-forwards of an excellent level, just like last year when Josef was part of the squad. Therefore, it is likely that the team’s characteristics this year will allow us to aspire to have Suárez and Campana both on the field. I am not saying that it will happen, but it is a possibility. In any case, our goal for this year is to have a highly competitive team that can participate on all three fronts and compete in the best way possible,” he concluded.

What did Martino say about Inter Miami’s pre-season?

“We comprehend both the business and sports aspects” Martino said when asked about Inter Miami’s long-distance pre-season plans. “The positive aspect of the club is our effort to harmonise both situations without excessively favouring one side over the other. In instances where we have an excess of matches, we will need to regulate the players’ participation time in each game. The segment related to Arabia, Hong Kong, and Japan is somewhat better organised on our part...

“What remains to be determined is how we will manage the first two matches”, he continued, “even though El Salvador and Dallas are geographically closer, they are very close in terms of time, and we find ourselves at the beginning of the pre-season. However, we will try to manage the players’ minutes judiciously, understanding that the contractual obligations involve the presence of our key players.”

Will Messi play for Inter Miami against El Salvador?

Whether or not Lionel Messi will play at the Estadio Cuscatlán against El Salvador will depend on his fitness, added Martino, without confirming nor denying that the 8-time Ballon d’Or winner will have minutes on the pitch.