Gerardo 'Tata' Martino, coach of Inter Miami, left Lionel Messi's potential participation in Wednesday's first leg match of the Concacaf Champions League quarter-finals against Monterrey up in the air. Messi has been dealing with a muscle injury since mid-March.

"Tomorrow we'll decide. Today, I don't know. He trained (today), yes, tomorrow we'll decide. We still have 24 hours," said the Argentine coach on Tuesday during a press conference.

"The main thing is that Leo has had an injury, and managing the timing of that injury. While we have a very important match tomorrow, we have to consider that it's still early April. All of this is just beginning. What we mustn't do is jeopardize the physical condition of our players. What we'll determine is fundamentally the best for Leo, like any other player, and from there we'll make the right decisions," he added.

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Inter Miami will face Monterrey in the first leg on Wednesday at 8:00 PM (00:00 GMT on Thursday), with the tie to be resolved in Mexican territory on Wednesday, April 10.

Messi, who trained with his teammates on Tuesday, hasn't played since March 13 in the return leg of the international tournament against Nashville.

Since then, the Rosario maestro missed an international FIFA window with the Argentine national team and three matches with Inter Miami: the 1-3 victory against DC United, the 4-0 defeat against New York Red Bulls, and the 1-1 draw against New York City FC.

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Despite doubts about Messi's availability and other injured players in the team, Martino emphasized that they must face the match against Rayados "without any excuses" and without "substantially changing" their own DNA despite the danger and potential of the team they will face.

"We recognize Monterrey's power. We also know it's a tie that's decided in 180 minutes, and what we'll try to do is neutralize the opponent's positive points," he stated.