Inter Miami drew 0-0 against Charlotte FC in a match played at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. With this result, the Florida team remains among the top teams in the MLS Eastern Conference. Coach Javier Mascherano presented a lineup with several changes compared to previous matches. Among the most notable absentees was Lionel Messi, who was not even part of the squad.
A team with many rotations
It was later confirmed that the Argentine captain did not travel with the team to North Carolina.
Messi’s last appearance for Inter Miami was in the middle of the week in the 0-0 draw against Nashville SC, in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Morales explains the decision
After the match, Mascherano did not appear before the media due to a red card received at the end of the match. Instead, assistant coach Javier Morales explained the reason for the Argentine star’s absence.
Morales assured that Messi is in good physical condition, but that the coaching staff decided to give him a rest due to the demanding schedule.
“We have important games coming up, especially on Wednesday in the Concacaf Champions Cup. We have been playing Wednesday and Saturday, so we thought this was the best decision,” he explained.
The priority: Concacaf
Inter Miami’s focus is now on the second leg against Nashville, a key clash to advance in the continental tournament.
The match will be played at home and the team hopes to have Messi in full fitness to try to secure a place in the next round.
A point that keeps the team up
Despite the rotations and playing without their star player, Inter Miami managed to salvage a point on the road and remain competitive in MLS.
The draw also confirms the coaching staff’s strategy: to manage the workloads of their main players so that they are in the best possible condition for the decisive matches of the season
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