MIAMI.- Lionel Messi will have a vital appointment to keep alive his aspiration to expand his unmatched record, when the Inter Miami receive nashville on Saturday in a direct duel for the leadership of the “Supporters’ Shield” of the North American league (MLS).
With nine points ahead in the general table, the yellow team reaches the Nu Stadium of Miami with the possibility of dealing one of the hardest blows of the season for the ambitious project led by the Argentine star.
After the fiasco in international competitions, Inter aims to cut the lead on the league leader Eastern Conference and the “Supporters’ Shield”, the title awarded to the team that scores the most points at the end of the regular season.
With ten games left before the playoffs, the defending MLS champions aim to win again this award that they pocketed in 2024.
In addition to the honor, the award grants a direct place to the Concacaf Champions Cup 2027 and guarantees home field advantage in the knockout phase.
“It’s game by game, we compete that way, we are living in the present, which is an important game for us and the team is prepared for that,” said the coach. Guillermo Hoyos prior to Inter Miami training this Friday.
Casemiro in good time
To knock out Nashville, the team with the least defeated defense in the league (19 goals conceded in 24 games), the “Herons” will have to improve their performance at home.
The Florida team has the best forward line in the championship, with 59 goals in 24 games, but has suffered to turn the Nu Stadium into a fortress: just four wins in eleven games.
In the middle of the week, he rescued a point in the visit to Chicago Fire of Robert Lewandowski (1-1) and managed to close the gap with Nashville, after it fell into fiefdoms of the toronto (2-1).
The Brazilian midfielder Casemiro It was key to achieving that unity, as he has quickly adapted to the offensive gear of his new team and has scored three consecutive games, always with assistance from Messi.
The world champion in Qatar 2022 is emerging for the third year in a row as a candidate for the prize Most Valuable Player (MVP). In his campaign, at 39 years old, he has celebrated 18 goals and given 13 assists.
However, Miami continues to suffer on defense. Hoyos’ team has scored 10 matches in a row, including the three matches in the group stage of the Leagues Cupwhere he suffered an early elimination.
And the “Kily”?
The new additions are also pending for the Inter leadership.
The Argentinian Cristian “Kily” González He was announced as the new coach on August 27, but has not been able to take over Hoyos due to visa issues.
“It could happen (that he joins the team) at any time,” a club spokesperson told AFP on Friday.
Despite the delay, Hoyos and his coaching staff are working on the transmission process remotely with González and his team.
“The doors are open in a permanent dialogue, they have already communicated with the physical preparation and it is moving forward little by little,” said Hoyos.
The Paraguayan Matias Galarza and the Brazilian Riquelme Fillipibrand new additions at the closing of the transfer market, are experiencing a similar scenario and are still unable to join the jobs.
Against Nashville, Miami will once again have a bench with little experience, with most of the players under 24 years old and without much experience in decisive games.
