Inter Miami have been one of the surprises of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, coming within minutes of topping Group A — something few expected at the tournament’s outset. Now, with one of their toughest tests looming against Paris Saint-Germain, head coach Javier Mascherano has delivered a strong message to Lionel Messi and the squad.
PSG finished atop Group B with victories over Atlético Madrid and Seattle Sounders, suffering a surprising setback to Botafogo along the way. Despite that defeat, the reigning UEFA Champions League winners enter the knockout round as heavy favorites — but Mascherano isn’t buying into that narrative.
Speaking at Saturday’s pre-match press conference, the Argentine coach made his stance clear: “It’s clear that we’re not naïve — we know that going into the match, we’re considered the weakest team. But don’t count us out ahead of time. We’re going to fight — that’s what this is all about. The great thing about tomorrow’s match is that we’ve earned the right to play in it.
Mascherano emphasized that simply reaching the knockout stage isn’t enough: “We can’t come into tomorrow thinking that just getting here is enough and throw the match away — quite the opposite. I don’t know how many times we’ll get a chance as a club to face a team like PSG. We have that chance tomorrow, and we have to make the most of it.
“Within our means, we have to enjoy it, and show that — with all our limitations and strengths — we can, maybe not match them equally, but at least play a great game and prove our worth,” concluded Mascherano.
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Through the Club World Cup group stage, Inter Miami didn’t dominate, but they held their own in tough matchups against Al Ahly, Porto, and Palmeiras. Now comes a major challenge in PSG. Still, with momentum on their side — and Messi facing his former team for the first time — Mascherano isn’t ready to concede anything just yet.
Inter Miami’s tactical approach vs. PSG
In terms of physicality and technical quality, PSG are clearly superior. They’re capable of controlling possession or striking quickly on the counter — a versatility Inter Miami haven’t quite matched during the tournament. That reality means Mascherano’s squad must take a strategic approach into Sunday’s showdown.
“Clearly, we have to try to play the game at our own pace. If we try to play at their tempo, we’ll almost certainly suffer much more. We’re going to have to be very compact defensively and avoid letting them cause damage. But when we have the ball, it can’t feel like it’s burning our feet,” the coach highlighted, asking for patience.
“They’re the kind of opponent that drags you into their game — which means pinning you back and making you play in your own box. They’ve shown us they’re not a perfect team, and they can be hurt. We have to find a way to capitalize on the few chances they’re going to give us,” he concluded.
