Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez (foto: Getty Images)
Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez missed part of Inter Miami’s latest training session as Javier Mascherano prepared to make changes following the loss to Vancouver.
Inter Miami stars Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez were not involved in the portion of training open to the media on Saturday, sparking questions ahead of Sunday’s match against FC Dallas. Manager Javier Mascherano confirmed that changes to the starting lineup are being considered after the team’s 2-0 defeat to Vancouver Whitecaps in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals.
“Surely there will be changes in the team,” Mascherano told reporters. “Because clearly I think that it's important to prioritize the next game and to get out of the defeat we need to win.”
Mascherano also revealed that Messi is feeling the effects of playing on turf, which contributed to his fatigue. “Messi ended the game well. Obviously, he was fatigued, playing on synthetic grass can make a player even more fatigued due to the floor. But he finished the game well,” he explained.
ESPN reported that Messi and Suárez were absent during the media-accessible portion of practice. It also noted that starting goalkeeper Óscar Ustari did not train with the group, while midfielder Sergio Busquets worked separately with a coach.
Inter Miami is dealing with a heavy schedule between MLS and Concacaf Champions Cup action, and Mascherano acknowledged the intense travel and short recovery time between games.
“One thing is to play every three days. Most of our players are used to it. Another thing is to play for less than 72 hours. We finished playing on Thursday at midnight in Miami and we're on to play Sunday at 5 p.m,” Mascherano said. “It’s not even 72 hours, with a trip of six hours.”
He continued, “In the end, we rested yesterday morning. Now we will see. Surely there will be changes in the team because it's important to prioritize the next game and to get out of the defeat we need to win.”
The last meeting between Inter Miami and FC Dallas at DRV PNK Stadium came more than two years ago, on April 8, 2023, when a dramatically different Miami side suffered a 1-0 defeat. Since then, the arrivals of Messi, Jordi Alba, and Busquets have transformed the team.
Whether Messi and Suárez will start or even feature on Sunday remains to be seen as Inter Miami looks to rebound and maintain momentum in MLS play.