Inter Miami coach confirms Messi game time stance ahead of crunch MLS fixture
Gerardo Martino has revealed his stance on his talisman Lionel Messi needing to be rested after a congested fixture list for Inter Miami.
Messi has played ten games and notched 11 goals for the Herons and has transformed their fortunes in the process. However, his manager now faces a decision over the superstar's game-time in the over the next month as matches continue to come thick and fast.
Not only will the 37-year-old have six games to potential play in all competitions for his club but he will also have international commitments to fulfil. The Vice City captain has been called up for his country to for World Cup qualifiers versus Ecuador and Bolivia.
The first of these clashes will come four days after Miami's crucial match versus Los Angeles on September 4. Following this, his club will face Sporting Kansas City six days later, with Argentina playing their second qualifier a couple of days after.
Clearly, something will probably have to give but head coach Martino is insistent that his star man will have some involvement in the game versus LAFC. He said: "I don't imagine in this very important match with the last champion that it is a match that Messi needs to rest up.
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The one we had to stop at was the Red Bulls team, he played 30 minutes, that's how we did it this week and now tomorrow he's going to play."
As the former Barcelona head coach rightly points out, Messi was afforded a rest versus New York Red Bulls last month. However, it appears that the importance of this upcoming clash versus last year's MLS Cup victors means he will be called upon by his boss.
Gerardo Martino has been open about his plans for Lionel Messi amid Inter Miami's fixture congestion (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)Despite the Herons' spectacular form since they recruited the world-famous forward, it is clear that Martino is treating this game with caution. The Californians have continued from where they left off last season and sit in second place in the Western Conference standings currently.
"In my opinion, LAFC is one of the best teams in the league, it is the last champion," he explained. "Carlos [Vela] is a decisive player within the team structure and [Denis] Bouanga is also decisive, Illie [Sanchez] is also decisive.
"They have a very solid central duo, and there is also a team that is supporting all the individualities, for us it will be a good measure and tomorrow's game will be a great challenge."
Miami face an uphill task if they are to make the playoffs this term and sit second from bottom of the Eastern Conference after 24 games. With ten matches still to play, Vice City sit ten points off D.C. United in the last qualifying spot, albeit with three games in hand.
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