Javier Mascherano raises doubts over Lionel Messi injury: ‘We’ll see how he wakes up’

Lionel Messi returned to action in Inter Miami’s win over LA Galaxy, and once again, he was decisive. The Argentine star came off the bench, scored Miami’s second goal, and later provided the assist for Luis Suárez to seal the victory. Even though Messi was influential, it was clear he wasn’t at 100% physically, something that was expected after his recent injury layoff.

Head coach Javier Mascherano addressed Messi’s condition in the postgame press conference, noting that although the forward was not fully comfortable at first, he improved as the minutes went on. The manager stressed that the plan is to evaluate his fitness day by day, emphasizing patience after his short recovery period.

Mascherano also pointed out that Messi’s mentality has not changed: “Leo always wants to play. He even wanted minutes against Orlando. He is happiest when he’s on the field, but sometimes we have to slow him down. He knows his body better than anyone, and it’s about regaining the right sensations for what’s ahead.”

This approach highlights the balance Miami must strike—having their most valuable player back on the pitch while managing his fitness carefully ahead of decisive stages in the MLS season and the Leagues Cup.

Cremaschi’s remarks and Mascherano’s response

Another topic that stirred attention came from Benjamín Cremaschi, who expressed frustration about not always knowing his role before matches. He explained that covering for injuries often forced him to adapt to different positions, which sometimes took a toll mentally.

Mascherano responded firmly but calmly after the win against LA Galaxy. The coach clarified that while the young midfielder’s comments sounded like criticism, they were simply a reflection of his versatility.

“When you listen, it might seem like we’re improvising,” Mascherano said. “But that’s not the case. As a starter, he always knows his role. Coming off the bench, the game can demand flexibility.” He added that his door is always open for players to discuss concerns directly, underlining the importance of professionalism in modern soccer.

Other key points from Mascherano

Beyond Messi and Cremaschi, Mascherano touched on tactical adjustments:

• On Jordi Alba: The coach noted that Alba is more effective arriving from deeper positions rather than acting as a pure winger. He highlighted the Spaniard’s intelligence in exploiting space.
• On Telasco Segovia: Mascherano praised the midfielder’s energy and attacking instincts, explaining that his substitution was pre-planned to manage minutes for the upcoming run of matches.

Finally, Mascherano stressed the significance of returning to winning ways: “Every game is now a final. The loss against Orlando cannot happen again if we want to stay on track.”