Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano wasn’t willing to take any risks with Lionel Messi, who has been dealing with multiple injuries in recent times.
Fans were eager to see Messi in action after spotting his name in the squad list. However, he wasn’t in the starting XI, leaving them waiting even longer. It wasn’t until the 55th minute that he was finally seen warming up on the touchline before coming on as a substitute. After the match, Mascherano explained his decision, emphasizing that he didn’t want to take any risks with Messi’s fitness.
Messi had been sidelined since March 16 due to injury and missed Argentina’s two World Cup qualifiers during the international break. The match against Philadelphia Union marked his return to action.
Mascherano had confirmed Messi’s return to training before the game and included him in the squad. However, he opted not to start the Argentine star.
Even without him, Miami took the lead in the first half through a goal from Robert Taylor. When Messi finally entered in the 55th minute, he wasted no time, scoring just a couple of minutes later. Miami went on to secure a 2-1 victory, moving to the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
After the match, Mascherano explained why Messi didn’t start:
“Our plan was to give Leo some minutes. The idea was for him to play 30-35 minutes, but with added time, he ended up playing a bit more. Fortunately, he felt good.”
“I didn’t want to take any risks by starting him because that would have been a gamble. Luckily, he finished the game well, and we are very happy.”
Miami’s next match is on Wednesday, a CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-final clash against LAFC. Mascherano confirmed that Messi would travel with the squad but didn’t guarantee his place in the starting XI.
“The plan is to get him fully fit and take him to Los Angeles. He played today because he felt good, and we didn’t want to take any risks.”
“He wasn’t ready to play the full 90 minutes. Including added time, he played around 45 minutes, and there were no issues. So, we’re planning to take him for the next match.”
