Inter Miami vs Montreal: Players ‘have to take accountability’ for dire run under Mascherano, warns Allen

Inter Miami defender Noah Allen has backed Javier Mascherano but acknowledged that “everyone’s just going to blame” the managerial newcomer over the MLS title hopefuls’ wretched form.

Miami are desperate to improve on a run of five defeats and one win in their last eight games in all competitions when they host the bottom team in the Eastern Conference, Montreal, in the first of two games in three days on Wednesday (7.30pm ET).

“The players have to take accountability first,” said Greece youth international Allen, via the Miami Herald.

“He’s not on the field. We’re on the field. It’s a difficult time. We’ve also played more games than any other team besides Vancouver.”

Inter Miami results ‘tough’

Inter shared a thrilling 3-3 comeback draw at Philadelphia on May 24, when Lionel Messi scored a sublime long-range effort that was awarded MLS Goal of the Round.

“Everyone’s just going to blame the coach or look at the coach first – and it’s understandable, especially when you’re not getting results,” said Allen.

“He has been helping us, guiding us, trying, pushing hard, and evolving. Wednesday is an opportunity to get out of the bad form.

“We understand that it needs to be better, but we’re going to try to take as many positives as we can from it, because we’ve been in a tough, tough run of games where we haven’t got results.

“It wasn’t the prettiest of games [against Philadelphia], but we showed togetherness to come back. That’s always important and that’s a very big thing we can take going into the game Wednesday, with a quick turnaround. We’re excited.”

Inter Miami vs Montreal

Failing to beat opponents who have won one of their first 15 MLS games this season would accelerate talk of a crisis at the club who finished with a record points total in 2024 but are winless in four league matches, conceding at least three times in six of their last seven games.

“We allowed three goals, that’s true,” Mascherano reflected on the game against Philadelphia, rueing “a momentary lapse of concentration” from a set piece for one of the goals Miami conceded and claiming another was offside.

“But we controlled the game and generated a lot of scoring opportunities. The way I saw it, our team played in the opposition half and played well against opponents who are top of the conference.”

Noah Allen ‘unbelievable’ at Miami

“There are a lot of games and there are going to be times where we’re going to be in bad form,” reasoned Allen.

“It’s normal. This happens all over the world. We, as players, have to take accountability and get out of that bad form.”

Asked why he played Barcelona legend Jordi Alba on the left wing against Philadelphia, Mascherano said the decision was partly a result of Allen’s versatility.

“With Noah, we have a kid who can play in any position,” said Mascherano, who is in his first senior role after taking over before the season and revealed he had told his players they were “in the ****” and to “forget the result” at half-time.

“He is unbelievable, so we had him at left-back in the beginning. In the second half, when we needed to maybe attack more, we moved Noah to centre-back and Jordi very, very high as a winger, defending with three players.”

Miami v Montreal team news

Midfielder Yannick Bright is Miami’s newest injury absentee after sustaining a hamstring injury at Philadelphia.

“Yannick is a very important player for this team, as he was last year,” rued Mascherano. “We lose his physicality, which clearly the team needs

“Especially on the defensive side, he gives us a lot and, sadly, he’s had this injury. We hope it is minor so he can return as soon as possible.”

Midfielders David Ruiz and Baltasar Rodriguez also missed out through injuries, while goalkeeper Oscar Ustari is continuing to deputize for Drake Callender, who had a hernia operation earlier this month.

Mascherano added veteran goalkeeper William Yarbrough to his squad last week and says he has informed Miami’s board of more reinforcements he wants.

Inter Miami fixtures

Montreal’s tally of 10 goals makes them the lowest scorers in the Eastern Conference by three goals, so Mascherano’s defence will be hopeful of a rare clean sheet.

They have a tougher-looking assignment next, hosting fifth-placed Columbus on Saturday (19:30) before a break for next month’s Club World Cup.

Miami launch the competition at the Hard Rock Stadium against Egyptian side Al-Ahly on June 14 (20:00).