The availability of Lionel Messi is just one of many topics surrounding the highly anticipated Eastern Conference match as Inter Miami CF aims to extend their Audi MLS Cup Playoffs drive with a Matchday 32 match at Atlanta United.
After returning from a long trip with Argentina’s national team, Messi has resumed training with the club, which would seem to increase his chances of playing in the game, though head coach Tata Martino refrained from confirming as much when discussing Messi’s status on Friday. After scoring a signature free-kick golazo in Argentina’s World Cup qualifying victory over Ecuador, he left the game early. He then traveled to Bolivia last Tuesday but was not included in the matchday roster.
He’s fine, but before we make a final decision, we’ll wait until after the training session, Martino remarked. The objective is not to hurt Leo or any other player, so we’ll have discussions on a daily basis and see how they feel. “Of course, we’ll be very careful because we’re aware of the number of important games awaiting us in the short term, but our idea is not to injure Leo or any other player,” the team said.
Josef and Martino head back to the Benz.
Apart from the possibility of Messi making his MLS debut at one of the league’s most hostile venues, the match will also serve as the homecoming for Inter Miami striker Josef Martnez and Martino, both of whom were significant players in Atlanta United’s early years in the league when they took the league by storm and won the MLS Cup in 2018.
The 70,000-seat Mercedez-Benz Stadium is expected to be packed with supporters for the Five Stripes’ match, and Martino has acknowledged the mixed feelings he will experience upon returning to his former MLS home.
The Argentine manager stated, “First of all, playing at Mercedez-Benz [Stadium], which is a great stadium, you can understand how I’m feeling. The Atlantans themselves are amazing, too. I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s game.”
Resolving the dispute
For Atlanta United, it will be their second opportunity to go on Inter Miami’s supercharged lineup, which includes Messi and his former FC Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. Inter Miami has yet to lose a match in any tournament since the addition of this composition.
The first meeting did not go as anticipated, with Inter Miami strolling to a 4-0 victory in the Leagues Cup group stage encounter at DRV PNK Stadium back on July 25 thanks to a Messi brace. Goalkeeper Brad Guzan said this rematch gives a great opportunity for the Five Stripes, who are now sixth in the East with 42 points (11W-8L-9D record), to move up the standings and gain momentum heading into the final stretch.
“We must be certain that we are prepared to offer our all and make sacrifices. Guzan acknowledged: “Saturday has the potential to be one of those times that, you know, after X number of weeks down the road, we look back and say, ‘Oh, that Miami game at home was a big night for us.’ because when we played them the first time, we weren’t there. Therefore, that is what we anticipate.
“We need to aim to finish as high as possible in order to perhaps find ourselves in a situation where we can be the home team for playoffs and other events. That is therefore our goal. And we want to go into these final six games with a championship mindset.
Gonzalo Pineda, the head coach of Atlanta, said he is totally preparing as though his team will face Messi once more. He is confident that with the help of several squad additions since that encounter, they will be better able to handle the situation.
Pineda remarked, “I’d say we have to be better as a group. “For me, the greatest approach to defend is to have the ball more often than anyone else. We only need to reduce the risk by limiting Messi’s space and the number of passes he can make since we are aware of how difficult it can be if we give him a lot of time and space frequently. So, that is the strategy.
“I’m actually quite happy about this stage and this moment with Messi, and it’s a big game, so it’s going to be a good challenge, for sure,” he continued. But I believe that it will greatly inspire the players.