Lionel Messi Presence Seen as Key Advantage for Inter Miami vs LAFC

Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano highlighted Lionel Messi impact ahead of the second leg against LAFC in the Concacaf Champions Cup. Trailing 0-1, Miami eyes a historic semifinal spot. With Busquets suspended, Messi leadership and mentality are expected to be decisive in overcoming the deficit at Chase Stadium.

Ahead of a crucial Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal second leg against LAFC, Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano has highlighted Lionel Messi’s presence as a “big advantage.” Despite trailing 1-0 after the first leg, Mascherano believes Messi’s mentality and leadership on the field could turn the tide in Miami’s favor at Chase Stadium.

Mascherano, a former Argentina teammate of Messi, emphasized that high-stakes matches like this are where Messi thrives, calling him the greatest player in the history of football. While Mascherano admitted he couldn’t fully understand the mindset of someone at Messi’s level, he was confident the star forward would deliver both motivation and performance. Inter Miami are chasing history, aiming to reach the semifinals of the competition for the first time after falling to CF Monterrey by a 5-2 aggregate in the 2024 edition.

However, they’ll have to do so without key midfielder Sergio Busquets, who is suspended due to yellow card accumulation. Midfielder Yannick Bright acknowledged Busquets is irreplaceable, but expressed confidence in the team’s collective effort to fill the gap. With Messi leading the charge, Inter Miami are hopeful of making a historic breakthrough in the tournament.