Alba wants to retire with Inter Miami as MLS champions | OneFootball

The Spanish left-back Jordi Alba expressed confidence this Wednesday in the potential of Inter Miami to win the MLS title this season, which will be his last as a professional player.

The Florida club will host New York City FC on Saturday in the Eastern Conference final. If they win, they will face the winner of the Western Conference on December 6: San Diego FC (with Mexican Hirving “Chucky” Lozano) or Vancouver Whitecaps (with German Thomas Muller).

“It will be a very difficult final. We will play at home, with our fans, and in that sense, I am calm,” said the left-back at a press conference.

“I am confident that everything will go well and I think we have many chances this year,” he added.

Inter Miami will play its first conference final with Lionel Messi in great form, having scored six goals and provided six assists in four playoff games.

If they lose to New York City FC, the Florida team will bid farewell to two of its biggest stars, Alba and Sergio Busquets, who will hang up their boots at the end of this season.

“You always enter the field with the uncertainty of whether it will be your last game. I hope it will be on December 6 and that we can win. Since I was young, I know what it takes to be here and I have always tried to make the most of it and give my all,” stated the left-back.

“I am 100% sure” about the decision to retire, commented the 36-year-old defender.

“It gives me a certain sadness because it's what I've done my whole life. I see that I could have continued for a few more years, but it's a decision I've been thinking about and I'm eager to finish these last two games in the best way possible,” he concluded.

Suárez on the bench

Alba, on the other hand, highlighted how the Uruguayan forward Luis Suárez, who has not yet agreed to renew his contract with Inter, handled the situation of being on the bench in the conference semifinal, in which Inter thrashed Cincinnati 4-0.

Suárez, 38, gave up his starting spot at the request of Javier Mascherano for the promising Argentine forward Mateo Silvetti, who perfectly teamed up with Messi.

The Uruguayan star accepted his role as a substitute, encouraging and giving instructions from the bench until he entered the field at the 31st minute.

“Everyone likes to play, and Luis is an example for everyone,” said Alba about his former Barcelona teammate.

“It's not an easy decision, and it's wonderful that after the career he had, he continues to be an example not only for us who live with him but for all his teammates,” he added.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.