Inter Miami manager Javier Mascherano has come out to address increasing concerns about Lionel Messi’s lack of rest. This is coming after another full 90-minute performance that saw the Argentine score twice in Inter Miami’s win over New England.
Speaking to the press, Mascherano insisted that while Messi was always going to feature in the game, he hoped the match scenario would allow for more rotation towards the end.
According to him, the plan was to rest Messi for the game, but as soon as New England scored their goal, he had to be subbed in.
He stated that Messi needs a lot of rest to keep performing at this stage of his career, so the MLS club will have to find the right moment for that to happen.
“Our initial plan was to give him some rest tonight. But once New England scored, we felt the pressure and decided to keep him on. In the next few matches, we need to find the right moment to let him rest,” he said.
Mascherano further noted that the Barcelona legend will need a break at some point because it has been an exhausting season for him.
“We were clear that Leo would play, but we were hoping the game would give us a window to rest him. Once New England scored, we felt it was better to keep him on the pitch. Still, at some point, we need to give him a break,” he added.
In the 15 MLS matches Messi has played this season, the only one he didn’t finish was on March 29 against the Philadelphia Union.
Lionel was not included in the squad for the April 27 match against FC Dallas, which was the last time he was given a rest.
Messi has now played the full 90 minutes in nine consecutive MLS games for The Herons, along with 4 matches in the Club World Cup and the final four games of Inter Miami’s Champions Cup run.
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