The Argentinian Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martinotechnician Inter Miamiassured Tuesday that he would wait “until the last moment” to make a decision on whether Leo Messiwho lives with muscle problems, will be able to play this Wednesday US Open Cup Final against him Houston Dynamo.
Messi retired injured on Wednesday in MLS against toronto through return of a muscle problem and he missed Saturday’s clash against Orlando City. His participation in the final is in serious doubt and Martino acknowledged that with no trophy at stake, the Argentine cannot be eliminated.
“We will wait until tomorrow (Wednesday), let’s wait for tomorrow. Jordi Alba, it’s difficult (also due to a muscle injury), but we will wait for Leo, until the last moment we will see the resolution we will make,” said Martino in the press conference the previous day, where he was accompanied by the Spanish Sergi Busquets.
“There are undoubtedly footballers and footballers. In this case, what I will do is sit with him, see how he feels. There are three issues. First the player, then the final, and then what will come. Everything these types of questions make me Stop talking about the game itself because you’re talking about Leo. We have to reduce that margin of risk,” he added.
Messi did not participate in Tuesday’s training session partially open to the media. Martino made sure the Argentine came out to train later, when there were no more cameras on the field.
Later, the Argentine admitted that he prefers not to share more detailed information so as not to facilitate the work of the Houston Dynamo.
“It has something to do with the final. In a league match we will not take any kind of risk. There are ninety or 120 minutes that separate you from a new title. It makes sense for us to wait until the end. If it was another game, we wouldn’t have taken any risks,” acknowledged ‘Tata’.
Messi has scored twelve goals in eleven games for Inter Miami, where he has had a flurry of matches since his debut on July 21.
Martino admitted that putting him on Wednesday against Toronto, despite the fact that the player seemed to be in good shape, was not the right decision.
“Sometimes it’s difficult because between the medical staff, the footballer, the coaching staff we talk, we see the sensations. He felt good in the 48 hours before the game, he did everything necessary and finally what happened happened. It is much more easy with the result in sight, but we don’t have it in advance. Sometimes we get it right and sometimes we get it wrong. I don’t rule it out as a possibility,” he said.
Although the press conference was mainly focused on Messi, Martino also expressed his appreciation for Mexican Héctor Herrera, Dynamo star, who he has worked with during his time at ‘Tri’.
“Héctor knows what I think of him as a person and a footballer. For me he is a ‘crack’ and it is good that he is in the league, to face him in a final. We will try to limit his participation, because The evolution of Houston’s attack depends a lot on what he started,” he said.
Source: La Verdad

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