Admitting that Lionel Messi has played a lot, coach Tata Martino only considers resting if the captain wishes.
* Cincinnati – Inter Miami: 6am Thursday August 24 Hanoi time, on VnExpress.
“Leo Messi has played every match, and maybe there will come a time when he wants to rest. Of course, it’s not in the middle of this week. Messi will start,” Martino said on August 21, when asked about his plans. Preparation plan for the away match at Cincinnati in the 2023 US Open Cup semi-finals.
Messi won two Leagues Cup Top Scorer awards. Photo: AP
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Inter Miami, as co-owner David Beckham admits, turned their fortunes around just five weeks after signing Messi. From bottom of the MLS standings and a run of 11 straight draws or losses, they won seven games en route to the Leagues Cup, including a 10-9 penalty shootout win over Nashville in the final on August 20.
Messi’s journey has been marked by scoring in all seven games, with a total of 10 goals and one assist. Except for the opening win over Cruz Azul, where he came on as a substitute, the Argentine superstar started and played the entirety of the remaining six games.
Therefore, coach Martino must consider the possibility of letting Messi rest. However, the Argentine military leader also affirmed that this maintenance will be based on the wishes of his fellow superstar. “If Messi doesn’t say anything, he will continue to play. Messi wants to participate and accompany everyone,” he said.
Miami will next play on August 24, against Cincinnati in the semi-finals of the US Open Cup – the knockout tournament of American soccer. This is an opportunity for Messi and his teammates to aim for another title.
Ticket prices for Messi’s MLS debut against the New York Red Bulls on August 27 are skyrocketing. Regular seats are selling for $610 on Gametime, according to the Daily Mail . VIP seats are selling for $23,500, including nearly $6,000 in taxes.
The fever even surpassed the Leagues Cup final, when a fan needed to spend at least $450 to get a ticket to see Messi at Nashville’s Geodis Park. The most expensive ticket was around $12,000.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber said clubs need to capitalize on Messi ’s appeal to grow their business and fan base. Soccer isn’t the number one sport in the United States. But Messi’s presence has created a buzz as he attracts all kinds of people, including fans of other sports.
Inter Miami Coach: ‘If he doesn’t say anything, Messi will continue playing’
