Miami fears Messi before the quarter -finals of the League Cup Cup

Lionel Messi fights against the Mexican side of Tigres Uanl on Wednesday, fights against Inter Miamis Lagues Cup quarter-finals against the Mexican side, as head coach Javier Mascherano announced.

The Argentine superstar Messi, who has been struggling with muscular problems since the beginning of August, trained separately from his teammates on Tuesday when they prepared for their last showdown with Tigres.

Advertising

The 38-year-old Messi returned to Miami’s line-up on Saturday after two-week absence and scored a goal after achieving a replacement in a 3-1 win against Los Angeles Galaxy.

The World Cup winner, however, wanted to be physical in the second half and, in the second half, wanted to doubt his fitness for Miami’s campaign in the Ligues Cup, the cross-border club competition for teams from Major League Soccer and Mexicos Liga-MX.

Miami trainer Mascherano admitted on Tuesday that Messi’s fitness was doubtful for the collision with Tigres, but stopped excluding him from the dispute.

“Leo did not train with the group; he trained separately,” said Mascherano about a press conference in Fort Lauderdale. “He felt uncomfortable in the 45 minutes he played (on Saturday). We will see how he is doing during the day and tomorrow, but he is not excluded,” added Mascherano.

Advertising

“I can’t tell you today whether he will play because it depends very much on how he feels.”

Messi’s absence would be a blow to Miami’s hopes to regain the Ligues Cup title, which they won in MLS in 2023 during the first season of the Argentine star.

Mascherano said Miami said before a strong exam against Tigres, the eight -time Mexican champions, and describe them as “a team with a lot of offensive strength”.

“The goal is to neutralize Tigres, to be the protagonists, to have the ball and play the game at our pace,” Mascherano noticed.

“You are a hard opponent, but we have the weapons to take part in competitions.”

Advertising

Miami’s game with Tigres is one of four Ligen Cup quarter-finals for Wednesday.

Mexicos Toluca met in front of Orlando City ahead of Los Angeles Galaxy moderator Pachuca, while the Seattle Sunders compete against Puebla at home.

RCW/MW