Messi’s Inter Miami role to be decided before Leagues Cup semi-final | OneFootball

The presence of Lionel Messi in Inter Miami for the Leagues Cup semifinal against Orlando City will be decided on Wednesday, the day of the match, announced his team on Tuesday.

The Argentine star and Spanish full-back Jordi Alba are doubtful for the crucial tournament game that brings together teams from MLS and the Mexican league due to physical issues, although they trained with their teammates on Tuesday.

Inter Miami's assistant coach, Javier Morales, said the team will monitor Messi and Alba before deciding if they will be available for the home match against Orlando.

“Jordi and Leo trained with us, they completed the training. We will see how they feel throughout the day and make a decision tomorrow,” he stated.

Morales considered Messi's completion of the training “very positive” and assumed that “he will at least be among the listed players.”

The winner of the duel between Miami and Orlando will face the winner of the semifinal between the current MLS champion, Los Angeles Galaxy, and the Seattle Sounders, who will also face off on Wednesday.

Messi, 38, led Inter Miami to the Leagues Cup title in 2023, in his early days with the South Florida team.

However, the number 10 did not participate in the team's quarterfinal victory last week against Tigres, from Mexico, due to a “small” muscle injury in his right leg and also did not play in Saturday's draw against DC United in the MLS.

Alba, 36, suffered a knee injury and left the field in the second half against Tigres, but both he and Messi participated in training on Monday and Tuesday.

The Argentine last played for Inter starting as a substitute against Galaxy on August 16. He scored a goal and provided an assist in the victory led by coach Javier Mascherano.

“Regardless of whether Messi plays or not, I think we will have the same mentality: to go on the field, give our best, and try to win,” said Orlando defender Alex Freeman.

A certain absence for the clash is Mascherano, who was sent off against Tigres.

Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP

Inter Miami vs. Orlando City: Match History

Orlando won both games against Inter Miami this season with an aggregate score of 7 to 1, including a 4 to 1 thrashing earlier this month.

“There is a different context for this game,” said Orlando City coach Oscar Pareja. “But we have the same energy, the same strength, the same will that has always characterized us in previous derbies.”

Javier Morales stated that the semifinal “will probably be the most important classic” that Inter has played so far.

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