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Can Messi’s availability against DC United prove to be a major boost for Inter Miami…?

Soumyaroop Mukherjee
lionel messi argentina

New Delhi: Inter Miami is set to host DC United at the Chase Stadium for their MLS fixture. United currently languishes in the eighth position in the Eastern Conference with 17 points after 13 matches (W-4, L-4 and D-5). On the other hand, Inter Miami are currently the table toppers in the Eastern Conference with 28 points after 14 matches (W-8, D-4, L-2).

Inter Miami also leads the Supporters’ Shield after a 0-0 draw against Orlando City. On that occasion, Miami missed the chance to win the game since they did not have their talismanic mid-fielder Lionel Messi. Messi’s inclusion in the side since last year has improved the playmaking of Inter Miami as well as brought a lot of creativity in the midfield.

The Argentine legend sat out of Wednesday’s game owing to a bad knee which marked the fifth absence for the 36-year-old. Inter Miami have struggled in the five matches that they featured without Messi. Out of the 5 matches, Miami has just won only 1 match while drawing 2. In contrast, when Messi played for the side, the Herons remained unbeaten in 9 games, in which they managed to win 7 games.

Tata Martino remarks, “We are optimistic about (Saturday’s) match….”

Inter Miami chief Tata Martino was optimistic about the Argentinian making a return to the side for the match against United. “We trained well yesterday, and we hope to train well today. We will define it after training, but we are optimistic about (Saturday’s) match.”

Lionel Messi has been in red-hot form this season with 10 goals and 12 assists. Messi has been adequately supported by his former Barcelona teammate, Luiz Suarez who is currently tied for the top spot in the goalscoring department.

On the other hand, things have hit a rough patch for DC United who have conceded not less than three goals while playing at home. “I mean listen, I think everyone was disappointed the other night, and the things that we didn’t get right, we try to address in a really short time. And I think that’s just trying to identify where some of the game got away from us. And I think a lot of those things are controllable.”

However, all that said even Tata Martino is aware of the threat that United possess in away games. DC has secured 4 draws out of 6 matches playing away from home courtesy of the phenomenal form of Christian Benteke. Naturally, it will be interesting to see Miami’s response to DC’s attack.

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