Javier Morales, assistant coach to Javier Mascherano, explained on Wednesday that Lionel Messi did not have the best feelings to play against Mexican side Tigres for Inter Miami’s place in the Legues Cup semifinals.
“Today Javier had a conversation with Leo and how the sensations were, which were not the best. We preferred not to take any risks and not to go back in time again and play it safe,” Morales said at the press conference after the match, in which Mascherano was sent off.
Messi was not included in the squad for the match against Tigres, which Inter Miami won 2-1.
Messi returned to competition last weekend after missing the previous two matches. The ten-goaler suffered a right leg injury on August 2 in the Leagues Cup match against Necaxa, and retired after just ten minutes.
Although he played the last 45 minutes of last Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Galaxy, Mascherano had said yesterday in the run-up to the game against Tigres that Messi’s sensations were not the best during that match.
Regarding Jordi Alba, who limped off at the start of the second half, Morales said he suffered “a blow to the knee”, but clarified that he did not have the medical report.
Inter Miami will play in the semifinals next week against Orlando City, who defeated Toluca on penalty kicks.
The Herons won the Leagues Cup in the summer of 2023, months after the signing of Lionel Messi, according to information from EFE.
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