Inter Miami’s Mascherano offers strong self-critique after humiliating loss to Orlando City without Lionel Messi

With Lionel Messi sidelined due to injury, Inter Miami suffered a major setback in Major League Soccer, falling 4-1 to Orlando City on the road. After losing the second Florida derby of 2025, head coach Javier Mascherano offered a candid self-assessment of the team’s performance.

Both teams traded early goals (Luis Muriel scoring in the 2nd minute and Yannick Bright responding in the 5th) leaving the score tied at halftime. But Orlando City dominated the second half, with Muriel (50th), Martin Ojeda (58th), and Marco Pasalic (88th) all finding the net to secure a commanding 4-1 victory over the Herons.

Following the decisive defeat, Mascherano didn’t mince words. “When you’re not at one hundred percent, any team can beat you. Today, there was only one team, and it was Orlando. We didn’t play with the intensity this game demanded; they outplayed us from the first minute to the last. We leave very hurt, worried, and it makes us think that if we want to compete, this is not the way. Of course, I’m the one responsible, since I’m the coach,” he said during the post-match press conference.

The coach pointed to attitude and lack of decisiveness in one-on-one battles as the root causes, beyond tactical issues: “There are no excuses today. Football is tactics, talent, organization, but in one-on-one situations, I’m better than you, and you have that hunger and desire to not be beaten—and today, we didn’t have that.

“It hurts me a lot because you can be outplayed, but today the team didn’t have the intensity the game required. We’re all responsible; first and foremost, me… It hurts me a lot to see the image we showed today,” With this loss, Inter Miami dropped below Orlando City in the standings and now sit 6th with 42 points, though they have two games in hand on their rivals.

When will Messi return?

Messi’s absence has clearly impacted Inter Miami’s pursuit of both the Supporters’ Shield and the Leagues Cup. Having missed back-to-back games including this last one against Orlando City, his return is inching closer as he continues training, though still apart from the main squad.

Inter Miami’s next match is Saturday, August 16, against LA Galaxy, where Messi could potentially make his return at Chase Stadium. However, the coaching staff’s primary goal is to have the Argentine star fully fit and ready for the Leagues Cup quarterfinals against Club Tigres on Wednesday, August 20, though limited minutes against Galaxy are not ruled out.