Why Luis Suarez's suspension puts Inter Miami's playoff hopes at risk? | OneFootball

Inter Miami is four days away from their match against Charlotte FC; however, the Herons won’t count on one of their best players.

This news has put Javier Masherano in a difficult situation, as well as complicating the dream of a playoff spot.

With the international break finishing this week, Inter Miami will recover many players, including Rodrigo De Paul and Telasco Segovia, among others.

Nevertheless, the focus was on the possible suspension three players might receive after the altercation in the League Cup final.

The sanction imposed by the MLS is correct, but it jeopardizes the Herons.

How does the three-match suspension for Luis Suarez complicate the Herons?

Inter Miami currently holds sixth place in the Eastern Conference, trailing the New York Red Bulls by six points as they compete for a coveted playoff spot.

The situation isn’t pretty for the Herons. The MLS commissioners gave Luis Suarez a three-match suspension for his actions against the Seattle Sounders.

One might think that this move from the league doesn’t become a disadvantage for Inter Miami, as an old Suarez is out of the picture until the New York FC encounter, but it is quite the opposite.

Without the former FC Barcelona, the Herons are left with Allen Obando as their only natural striker. Mascherano could put Allende and Picault, as he is used to, but it will not be the same.

Why? Simple. Tadeo and Fafa tend to look for spaces on the wings, leaving the box completely empty. That’s why the Suarez/Allende formula functioned well; the Argentine forward opened spaces in the sidelines, and then, every ball that arrived in the box was finished by Suarez.

But that won’t happen until the former Liverpool FC is back on the team. Inter Miami has lost an important asset in the offense. The silent work from the 38-year-old footballer is crucial for Miami’s game.

Pressuring defenders, first touch, and disrupting the opposing back line are all trademarks of Luis Suarez’s style. His physical presence consistently attracts two defenders, creating space and opportunities for his teammates.

Mascherano lost a leader on the attack, and is left with outside playmakers for the next three games. We will have to see how the manager adjusts the formation after this news.

Despite everything that could hurt the Herons by not having Suarez, what the Uruguayan player did is terribly wrong, and the sanction is correct.