Why isn’t Jordi Alba playing for Inter Miami against Nashville SC?

Inter Miami head coach Tata Martino has identified the CONCACAF Champions Cup as a top priority for his team in 2024. The Herons qualified for the continental competition for the first time this year and will be eager to prove themselves against CONCACAF’s best.

With that in mind, many were surprised to see that Jordi Alba was absent from the Miami starting XI to take on Nashville SC at Geodis Park. The Spanish full-back has been a mainstay of the team since his arrival from Barcelona last summer and has become a key attacking threat for the Herons.

CONCACAF Champions Cup summary: Nashville SC - Inter Miami

Martino revealed on Wednesday that Jordi Alba had been suffering with illness this week and that his availability for the Round-of-16 clash was in the balance. It looks like the 34-year-old did not make the improvement that his manager had hoped and he does not make the Miami squad.

Ahead of the game Martino said: “Jordi is dealing with a strong flu, we will evaluate him to see if he’s fit to play. They’ll have to ring his doorbell at home to see if he’s here. It’s always important for the opponent to discover who they’re facing when they see the squad list.”

Without Jordi Alba to call upon Tata Martino appears to have reverted to a 5-3-2 formation against Nashville. Youngster Noah Allen comes in to replace the Spaniard on the left and Julian Gressel drops back to play on the opposite flank. Nicolas Freire Sergii Kryvtsov and Tomas Aviles complete the five-man backline.