Inter Miami face Atlanta United in a winner-takes-all clash at Chase Stadium, where the Florida franchise’s season is on the line.
With the best-of-three series tied and one apiece, a win is what Inter Miami need if they’re to book their ticket to the semi-finals of the Eastern Conference play-offs, where Tata Martino’s side remain the strong favorites.
With Sergio Busquets missing Inter Miami training this week, though, the Herons could be without one of their key players in what might end up being the biggest game of the year for the reigning Supporters’ Shield holders.
And Federico Redondo has named another Inter Miami player who the midfielder hopes is fit to play.
Redondo hopeful Yannick Bright is fit for Inter Miami to face Atlanta
Speaking to the press after training, the Argentina youth international shared how he hopes Yannick Bright will be fit enough to feature for Inter Miami against Atlanta after picking up a hamstring injury last Saturday.
The SuperDraft pick has been one of the revelations of the season in MLS, with Bright learning from Sergio Busquets and even replacing the legendary Spanish player in midfield, with the veteran now playing in central defense.
And with Bright and Busquets both potentially out for tomorrow’s game against Atlanta, Inter Miami could have a big problem on their hands in the midfield, even with some solid options in Redondo, Diego Gomez and Benjamin Cremaschi.
Redondo said: “Yannick is an extraordinary player who helps us so much defensively, he is a tireless worker on the ball, very disciplined. Having him on the field next to you makes you better. We would miss him if he can’t play this weekend.”
Bright could be an even bigger loss than Busquets for Inter Miami
The MLS SuperDraft has never been less important for MLS teams as a source for fresh talent, with academies, such as Inter Miami’s academy, now starting to produce exceptional players who have now gone on to thrive in Europe.
Yet every once in a while some players every from the SuperDraft who take MLS by storm, and Bright has done just that at Inter Miami, with the midfielder replacing arguably the greatest in his position in Busquets and displacing him to the defense.
And with the play-offs now here, Bright’s absence could be felt harder than Busquets, with the 23-year-old one of the best in MLS at keeping the midfield tidy and recycling the ball for Inter Miami, something they will miss on Saturday.