Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano addressed the media ahead of the Leagues Cup quarterfinal clash with Tigres, providing an update on the status of Lionel Messi. The Argentine manager revealed that his captain did not train with the squad in the most recent session, though he stopped short of confirming whether Messi will feature in the decisive match.

Why Did Messi Train Separately?

According to Mascherano, Messi felt discomfort after playing 45 minutes last weekend against the LA Galaxy, a match in which he scored once and assisted another. For precautionary reasons, the technical staff opted to keep him on an individual training program.

“We’ll evaluate him during the day and tomorrow as well. He’s neither ruled out nor confirmed. It depends largely on how he feels,” Mascherano explained.

Messi’s Recent Injury Background

The No. 10 of both Inter Miami and the Argentina national team suffered an injury on August 2 in a match against Necaxa, forcing him to miss two subsequent fixtures. He returned against the Galaxy, where he played a decisive role in the 3-1 victory, but he is still not fully fit.

Inter Miami’s Expectations Against Tigres

Mascherano underlined the challenge of facing Tigres, describing the Mexican side as a team with “a lot of attacking power.” He emphasized that the key would be attempting to control possession and limit the influence of Tigres’ offensive weapons.

Inter Miami finished second in their Leagues Cup group with eight points, while Tigres advanced with six. The quarterfinal will be played at the Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, where the reigning 2023 champions look to continue their title defense.