Inter Miami is set to face New England Revolution this Wednesday in another round of Major League Soccer action. After a hectic run in the Club World Cup, the Herons recently resumed their MLS campaign and now face a packed July schedule. Head coach Javier Mascherano has already warned that squad rotation is on the table. But the big question remains: Will Lionel Messi play?
“No matter how strong your squad is, if Leo sits out, the team is going to feel it,” Mascherano said when asked about possibly resting the Argentine star. “This year we’ve had to play several matches without him, and every player has stepped up to make his absence felt as little as possible.”
Mascherano added, “If Leo is feeling good and has no issues, my idea is to have him play. If there’s anyone who knows how to manage himself on the pitch and understands his own body, it’s him. It’s a day-by-day situation—we’ll see how he feels.”
The Inter Miami coach also acknowledged the challenges of a short roster: “The squad isn’t that deep, and with the current injuries, we can’t rotate much. But we’ll make the changes we can, because we need everyone.”
Looking ahead at the fixture congestion, Mascherano explained: “We’ve got another three games in the next ten days. We’ll try to manage minutes wisely and put out the best XI possible. My plan isn’t to rotate too heavily—it can throw off the balance of the team. When players who aren’t used to playing together take the field, it becomes a challenge. We’ll make some changes to refresh, but try to keep the core of the team intact.”
