Inter Miami are learning how to play a "different" game without Lionel Messi, as the Argentine GOAT nurses another injury.

• South American is nursing a knock
• Herons having to tinker with tactics
• Can compete without iconic captain

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi is reportedly close to agreeing a new deal with the Herons that will keep him in South Florida through 2028. Questions had been asked of his future plans as an initial deal in the United States runs down.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Messi has continued to star in Miami, earning MVP honours in 2024, and had been in impressive goalscoring form prior to picking up his latest knock. He is now being forced to sit out MLS and Leagues Cup fixtures.

• WHAT ALENDE SAID

  Inter Miami were able to book their place in the Leagues Cup quarter-finals without Messi at their disposal, with Tadeo Allende telling of countering the absence of the all-time great: "We feel it quite a bit, obviously, because he ends the plays, he starts the plays, and he’s the one who has the last pass. But I think we knew how to handle it well, and we anxiously await him getting back on the pitch.

  "Qualifying [for the knockouts] is a very important step for us. Let's see how we work and analyze our next opponents; this is step by step."

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Herons boss Javier Mascherano said on the same subject, with his tactical plans having to be tinkered with: "When Leo is playing, we have a base of space that can open the game many times, right? And that player between the lines that comes in to create the superiority is not forced. It's natural, because Leo is the one that gives us the possibilities; we can play it in a different manner. When he's not there, we need to look for different options."

Tags: Futebol
Category: News