Inter Miami will take on a challenge for the Houston Dynamo on Sunday, because Lionel Messi did not travel with the team, According to the Miami Herald. There is no injury problems, only that Messi had to be equipped given the busy schedule of Inter Miami juggling with Champions Cup Play and League Play, according to the report. Messi has already registered for the herons in all competitions for 249 minutes, registered two goals and two assists to choose, exactly where he had left last season after winning the League MVP.
“Leo is fine. He is fine. He will normally train like the rest of his teammates,” said Inter Miami -Coach Javier Mascherano about Messi’s fitness, according to the report.
On the way to Jamaica to face Caviler SC in the Champions Cup round of 16 on Thursday, this is a time when it makes perfect sense for Messi to rest for a competition that Miami should be able to win without him. This also increases the chance that Miami will have a healthy messi throughout the season, unlike last season. There is no current risk for Messi to miss the Champions Cup match of Miami, but these are times when Mascherano has to make difficult decisions about when his players should rest.
Tomas Aviles will already be absent in this competition with a red card suspension he picked up in the season opening of Miami versus New York City FC and there could be more rotation for the competition in Houston. These chances to rotate will be less as the season progresses and other competitions such as the Leagues Cup and the Club World Cup grasp, so taking them now will be important.
Miami can see if a player can perform in his absence, but the signs are that new signing sessions can help Telasco Segovia and Tadeo Allende in collecting part of the play in the attack. For fans of Houston who expect to see Messi, this can come as a disappointment, but rather Teams such as the Chicago Fire have offered vouchers If the Argentinian competitions on their market missed.
Although it is not a requirement for a team, these gestures of goodwill go a long way in maintaining fan relationships. Ticket prices rise when Messi comes to the city and fans also travel further to catch a glimpse of him. Of course, stars can still be present in Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez, but nobody sells a ticket like Messi.
How to look and opportunities
- Date: Sunday March 2 | Time: 7 pm et
- Location: Shell Energy Stadium – Houston, Texas
- Live stream: MLS Season Pass
- Chances: Houston Dynamo +140; Drawing +270; Inter Miami +170