Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano reassured fans that Lionel Messi was merely rested for Sunday night’s disappointing defeat to FC Dallas and he will be fit for Wednesday’s crunch return game with the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Messi was left out of the squad for the weekend clash, along with Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba, while Sergio Busquets was an unused substitute.
And it looked like Mascherano’s decision would prove a shrewd one with Miami leading 3-1 after 56 minutes only for the visitors to stage a thrilling comeback.
📰 Table Of Contents [hide]
Dallas hit back to stun Miami
Osage Urhoghide reduced the arrears after 64 minutes and Anderson Julio levelled it at 3-3 five minutes later. Pedrinho grabbed the winner with nine minutes remaining.
The boys never give up. pic.twitter.com/0raaZ1mV9g
— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) April 27, 2025
“It’s not easy. We played for 60-65 minutes. It was very good, we came from behind after the first goal which is not easy,” Mascherano said.
“But as I told the players, I am responsible for the loss. I read the game wrong and couldn’t help them. Well, maybe when it was 3-1, or just just 3-2, when we are about to make the changes, they started to make a line of five and to pair their 5-line I did some movements that didn’t end up with results.
“Sometimes it is like that and you have to take care of it. That’s reality.”
All eyes now on Vancouver showdown
The defeat ended Miami’s unbeaten run in MLS this season and they dropped to fifth in the Eastern Conference as a result.
Their next test comes in midweek when they look to overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit against the Whitecaps in the semi-final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Messi and the rest of the former Barcelona quartet are all set to return as Miami aim to set up a final showdown with either Cruz Azul or Tigres UANL.
Mascherano added: “Leo is good. Obviously we decided, like many of his teammates, to reserve him after the game against Vancouver where we had to travel for six to seven hours and play on synthetic grass. But he’s good, he trained today so he’s ready.”
