Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano voiced his frustration on Friday over the club failure to secure reinforcements ahead of their debut in the FIFA Club World Cup. The Argentine manager emphasized the importance of the tournament, calling it “the most important competition in the club’s history,” but admitted he will be without key players and had hoped for new signings.

“We are surely facing the most important competition this club has played in. It’s still a young club, but this is the biggest challenge we’ve had,” Mascherano said during the press conference ahead of Saturday opening match against Al Ahly of Egypt.

Concern Over Key Absences

Mascherano confirmed that he won’t have a full squad available, citing the absences of defenders Jordi Alba and Gonzalo Luján. He also expressed disappointment over the lack of reinforcements, especially with Inter Miami drawn into a challenging group that includes Porto and Palmeiras.

“We’ve been saying for two months that we clearly needed to strengthen the squad,” the coach said. “After this competition, everyone will have to take responsibility,” he added pointedly.

Messi Returns as Team Main Hope

One piece of good news for the Herons is the return of Lionel Messi following the international break. Mascherano thanked the Argentine national team for allowing Messi to rest in one of their two matches, noting his importance in helping Inter Miami progress to the next round.

“We have the highest expectations with Leo. We always try to support him, to create an environment where he feels comfortable and can do what he does best,” Mascherano said.

Hoping to Be the Tournament Surprise

Despite being a relatively young club founded in 2018 Inter Miami has assembled a roster that includes global stars like Messi, Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba. The team finished first in the MLS regular season last year and now hopes to surprise the footballing world on the global stage.

“We’re lucky to have several players who’ve played in these types of tournaments, not just at club level but also internationally,” said Mascherano, who shared a dressing room with many of them during his time at FC Barcelona.

While he acknowledged that “it’s normal for a European team to win this competition,” Mascherano made it clear that his team is aiming high: “We want to be the tournament’s surprise.”

Inter Miami and Al Ahly will kick off the tournament this Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami at 8:00 p.m. local time.

The competition has generated significant interest in Miami, although the excitement has been somewhat overshadowed by a wave of immigration enforcement actions across the U.S., with threats of raids extending to stadiums hosting the tournament.