Tata Martino has claimed that Inter Miami’s 5-2 loss to Atlanta United was not down to Lionel Messi’s absence, with Jordi Alba also missing last night’s clash.
Speaking to MLS’ official website, the Herons manager said that errors in the opening half were the main reason behind Inter Miami’s first loss since Messi joined the club in July.
The Florida franchise went 11 games unbeaten, winning the Leagues Cup and reaching the US Open Cup final, with Messi at the center of all of Inter Miami’s success.
However, after missing last night’s match completely in Atlanta, Inter Miami have now tasted defeat for the first time in over two months in thumping fashion.
Yet Martino did not choose to pin the loss on Messi or Alba’s absence, with the Inter Miami coach saying: “I don’t think either of the two absences had to do with it [the loss]. Those eight minutes had errors.
“At the start we had bad recoveries in the transitions; we do not have to look for what happened in those eight minutes on the absences [of Messi and Alba] but rather because of the team’s deficiencies.”
Inter Miami could have dealt with Atlanta had Messi been fit
At 36-years-old, Messi is of course not going to play every single fixture for Inter Miami, especially with the forward still involved with the Argentina national team.
However, a case can be made that Inter Miami could have dealt with Atlanta a lot better last night had Messi been available, alongside Alba at the back.
Indeed, Inter Miami will need to learn to operate without Messi sooner rather than later, and last night’s loss was a big reminder that one club can’t be dictated by the quality of one player.