Inter Miami are getting a taste of what a bad run of form looks like that they haven’t since signing Lionel Messi in July. Until the bad run started, Inter Miami looked like a proper team with Lionel Messi pulling the strings, linking plays with the team’s attacking unit and scoring goals for fun. He even delivered a trophy for the Miami-based club.
Unfortunately for the Florida-based club, Gerardo Martino’s men have been uninspiring in the World Cup winner’s absence. They’ve lost a final (US Open Cup), and a few MLS games, including some heavy defeats to Atlanta United and, most recently, Chicago Fire, as their playoff hopes were dealt a major blow.
Inter Miami faced significant setback in their playoff aspirations
If you want to cripple a team, take out its most valuable player. That may be Inter Miami’s new reality as they’ve failed to live up to expectations with below-par performances in the MLS without their star man Lionel Messi. The Argentine hasn’t enjoyed club football since returning injured from the last international break. His former national team manager, Martino, must now devise a way to get Inter Miami back to their best in the absence of their talisman.
Results haven’t been going the club’s way, despite a run of form that raised hopes of a playoffs. The club’s recent horror show against Chicago Fire has done nothing to improve their playoff hopes, leaving fans frustrated over how long Lionel Messi could be out for.
This was Inter Miami’s second heavy defeat since Messi has been out of the team. The Florida-based club also suffered a 5-2 humiliating loss to Atlanta United last month, with a 4-1 defeat to Chicago Fire summing up the club’s woes in a little over two weeks.
Former Liverpool winger Xherdan Shaqiri, MLS’s second highest-paid player, a country mile behind Lionel Messi, justified his salary with a brace against the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s Miami. Messi could only watch on as the Swiss and co. battered his team.
Lionel Messi sits out sold-out Inter Miami due to injury
Inter Miami have been selling out their home games this season, thanks to Lionel Messi’s appeal in the country. Several celebrities in the country have come out to watch him play, including LeBron James, Prince Harry, Selena Gomez, DJ Khaled, Diddy, and many others. Sadly, some fans have been left disappointed with Messi’s absence in recent weeks, as most of them only come out to see him play.
This was the case again yesterday when the David Beckham-owned franchise suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat to Chicago Fire.
When will Messi be back in action for Inter Miami?
