Lionel Messi will miss Inter Miami’s encounter against the Whitecaps in Vancouver on Saturday, according to coach Gerardo Martino, due to the team’s congested future schedule.
Lionel Messi, along with colleagues Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets, will not play for Major League Soccer-leading Miami (9-2-4), which was projected to bring over 50,000 fans. Miami has two home games set for next week.
“We thought it was most prudent for them not to play this match,” Martino stated Friday. “They’ve been training, but they won’t be available for the game.
“We appreciate the angst of individuals who want to see these stars perform. As coaches, we are occasionally forced to make really tough football decisions. However, we must constantly prioritize the health of the athletes.
Lionel Messi has missed previous MLS games in Orlando, New York, and Washington. The 36-year-old Argentine great has 10 goals in 10 MLS games this season and leads the league with 12 assists.
Martino stated that the artificial turf at B.C. Place was not a factor in the decision. He said that not employing the players would save them from the arduous flight and three-hour time difference.
Following the game against Vancouver, which is sixth in the Western Conference, Miami will visit Atlanta on Wednesday and St. Louis next Saturday.
In the past, MLS has chosen not to book mid-week games for clubs that have traveled significant distances, instead scheduling another road game nearby, Martino explained.
“But it’s not a complaint,” he explained. “We recognize that in our particular instance, the players in question are critical to everyone. However, the players’ health is the top consideration.”
MLS announced Friday that it will “continue to review measures regarding how clubs report player availability.”
“Major League Soccer acknowledges fan disappointment when marquee players are unavailable for matches,” read the statement. “Each MLS club makes its own personnel and competitive decisions based on what they believe is in the best interests of the club and each player.”
Vanni Sartini, the Whitecaps’ head coach, has also expressed disappointment.
“It’s a bummer, like for everyone else,” Sartini remarked. “You would also appreciate the opportunity to play against a large number of extremely strong and skilled players, including maybe the finest player in the previous 20 or 30 years. But it is what it is. “The main focus is on playing well.”
