The Absence of Lionel Messi Affects Inter Miami’s Performance

Inter Miami assistant coach Javier Morales has confirmed that Lionel Messi will not be playing against New York City FC on Saturday due to a right hamstring injury. Despite this setback, the club remains hopeful that Messi will be back in action for the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal match against Liga MX club Monterrey on Wednesday. Morales mentioned that Messi is currently undergoing treatment with the physios and is focused on returning for the upcoming match.

Messi has not played for Inter Miami since March 13 and also did not join the Argentina team for recent friendlies. The team’s performance has been impacted by his absence, with two losses in the three games played without him. The once undefeated streak in the five games Messi played has now been broken, including a 4-0 loss to New York Red Bulls in their last outing.

Miami has shown promise in Eastern Conference games, with a record of 2-2-0. Luis Suárez has been leading the team’s scoring efforts with four goals, contributing to Miami’s conference-leading total of 12 goals. The upcoming match against NYCFC will be crucial for both teams, with NYCFC looking to end a three-game losing streak on the road.

To strengthen the squad, Inter Miami recently signed defender Marcelo Weigandt on loan from Boca Juniors for the remainder of the MLS season. This signing comes after the trade of United States men’s national team right back DeAndre Yedlin to FC Cincinnati. Despite these reinforcements, the absence of key players like Messi and Federico Redondo, who is expected to be out for eight weeks due to injury, poses a challenge for the team.

The absence of Lionel Messi due to injury has undoubtedly affected Inter Miami’s recent performances. The team’s undefeated streak with Messi on the field has been disrupted, leading to losses in his absence. The upcoming match against NYCFC will be a test for Miami as they strive to bounce back from recent setbacks and continue their pursuit of success in the Eastern Conference. With key players injured or unavailable, the team will need to regroup and find ways to adapt to the challenges they face on the field.