Javier Mascherano insisted that there’s “no secret formulation” to holding Lionel Messi match and firing amid Inter Miami’s rising harm issues.
Messi performed 90 minutes in Miami’s 3-0 defeat to FC Cincinnati in midweek, bringing an finish to his record-breaking run of MLS video games with a number of targets.
Mascherano had been in a position to handle the Argentine’s minutes at the beginning of the marketing campaign after the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner had cited muscle complaints.
The 38-year-old has featured prominently for the Herons in current weeks, enjoying in all of their fixtures on the Membership World Cup and the final 4 MLS matches.
And whereas Mascherano has mentioned he want to take Messi out of the firing line, he defined he had little alternative given Miami’s rising harm points of their squad.
“We’ve to discover a solution to relaxation and nonetheless compete and win. There’s no secret formulation for that,” Mascherano mentioned.
“We’ll maintain going from match to match, making an attempt to go on the market with the very best and healthiest crew potential.
“Subsequent will likely be to acquire these three factors in opposition to New York and hopefully get extra of our injured gamers wholesome.”
Full time. We go once more on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/dQOG2BHEWW
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) July 17, 2025
A technique by which Miami want to fight their harm points is with new additions, with Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodrigo De Paul linked with a transfer to the MLS.
It has been reported that De Paul will initially be a part of the Herons on mortgage, the place a contract choice by means of to 2027 will likely be triggered to facilitate a transfer and sale in 2026.
The character of the deal means De Paul received’t should be registered as a Designated Participant, with the Argentina worldwide insisting that the wage was not necessary.
“At one level I advised Racing, ‘I simply need to play the Copa Libertadores. Don’t pay me.’ I wasn’t on the lookout for cash. I simply wished to be in a spot the place I felt wished,” De Paul mentioned.
“Generally, it’s not concerning the monetary facet. It’s how a membership makes you’re feeling. When Udinese gave me the No. 10 shirt, the identical quantity Di Natale wore, I felt they trusted me.
“That issues greater than a contract. I’ve labored arduous, after all, however I’m not motivated by cash. I must really feel valued. That’s what pushes me.”
Miami, nevertheless, will likely be turning their consideration to a conflict with the New York Purple Bulls this weekend, a facet who placed on a five-star exhibiting of their newest MLS fixture.
The Purple Bulls got here from two targets down within the first half to beat the New England Revolution 5-3, led by Emil Forsberg and Eric Choupo-Moting’s doubles.
Sandro Schwarz’s facet are eighth within the Japanese Convention standings, and the Purple Bulls head coach is relishing the problem of taking up Miami.
“Nice, nice, the response from the blokes, the behaviour of them at all times to consider within the second half, and this was, for the entire group, very, essential,” Schwarz mentioned.
“We are able to be taught lots and now everyone seems to be speaking perhaps from the second half. However me, too, we are able to be taught lots from the primary half and after we be happy, and we’re from the psychological facet, we’ve got the standard. It’s good.
“After which additionally that in the present day we had this sense of coming again like we did within the second half. It was nice. However the first half, my duty, is evident.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
New York Purple Bulls – Eric Choupo-Moting
Choupo-Moting was on fireplace for the Purple Bulls in opposition to New England, along with his brace taking his tally to 13 targets within the MLS this season, however he was additionally backed up by his captain.
Certainly, in Forsberg and Choupo-Moting, it was the second time the duo each scored a number of targets in an MLS match (additionally in Could in opposition to the LA Galaxy). The one different pair with two such video games for the Purple Bulls are Kenny Cooper and Thierry Henry (each in 2012).
Inter Miami – Lionel Messi
Regardless of seeing his stellar run come to an finish in opposition to Cincinnati final day out, Messi will likely be assured of returning to the scoresheet this weekend. He has scored a objective in all three of his matches in opposition to the Purple Bulls.
They’re one in every of three MLS groups he has scored in three straight regular-season matches in opposition to (New England Revolution and Philadelphia Union) however neither he nor another Miami participant has ever scored in 4 straight MLS video games in opposition to one crew.
MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW
Miami has received their final two matches in opposition to the Purple Bulls, each at dwelling, scoring 10 targets within the course of. That they had received simply three of their first 9 in opposition to New York, totalling eight targets in these video games.
Mascherano’s crew noticed their five-game league win streak got here to an finish with a 3-0 loss in opposition to Cincinnati. It was Miami’s third loss by three or extra targets over their final 10 MLS matches after having simply two such losses of their earlier 60 video games in opposition to MLS groups throughout all competitions.
The Purple Bulls, in the meantime, overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat New England 5-3. It was the primary time in membership historical past that they received an MLS match by a number of targets after trailing by two or extra.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
New York Purple Bulls – 36.2%
Draw – 26.2%
Inter Miami – 37.6%