Inter Miami to Manage Lionel Messi’s Playing Time

Inter Miami CF head coach Gerardo Martino has announced that Lionel Messi is set to return for the upcoming matches against Atlanta United on Wednesday and New York City FC on Saturday. However, the extent of his participation in these games remains uncertain.

After a two-month hiatus due to a right ankle sprain sustained during the Copa América final on July 14, Messi made his much-anticipated return to action this past Saturday against the Philadelphia Union. In that match, he played the entire duration, totaling 105 minutes, contributing to Miami’s 3-1 victory at Chase Stadium.

Martino expressed confidence in Messi’s condition, noting, “Leo is fine; he ended the game well. Tired, obviously. It was the first 90 minutes in a long time, but it ended very well.” He confirmed that Messi will travel for both upcoming matches and is available for selection but emphasized the need to monitor his situation closely given the demanding schedule.

The coach indicated that the team will approach Messi’s usage with caution to avoid overexerting him or other players. “There are three games this week with travel included, so we have to see it day by day,” Martino said. He plans to make a decision about Messi’s starting status after the training session on Tuesday morning, weighing whether to utilize him from the beginning or as a substitute.

This season, Messi has missed a total of 10 MLS games, along with four Leagues Cup games and one Concacaf Champions Cup match. Yet, Inter Miami has managed to perform impressively in his absence, currently sitting at the top of the Eastern Conference and leading the Supporters’ Shield standings with 62 points from 28 games.

“Wherever he is, he will surely always be missed,” Martino remarked. He expressed satisfaction with Messi’s return, acknowledging that the challenge of replacing a player of Messi’s caliber is immense, adding, “We didn’t replace him individually because individually they cannot be replaced. But we have tried to ensure that collectively the team acquires a physiognomy that makes it reliable, and I think that within what we have done, it seems to me that it turned out quite well.”

In addition to Messi, Martino confirmed that Luis Suárez is also available for the upcoming matches. However, the team will face challenges in the lineup due to several significant absences. Players David Martínez and Noah Allen are both sidelined with injuries sustained during the match against the Union.

Furthermore, Tomás Avilés and Sergio Busquets will miss the next games as they are currently dealing with yellow card accumulations. Both players are expected to be available for Saturday’s matchup against New York City FC.

As Inter Miami prepares for this week’s challenging schedule, the team is focused on striking the right balance between player management and maintaining their competitive edge. With Messi back in the fold and the potential for tactical adjustments, the upcoming matches could be pivotal in shaping their season moving forward.