Inter Miami assistant coach Javier Morales has confirmed that Lionel Messi will not be available to play against New York City FC on Saturday due to a right hamstring injury. This news comes as a blow to the team and fans alike, as Messi has not played for Inter Miami since March 13. Despite missing the upcoming match, there is hope that Messi will make a return for the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal against Liga MX club Monterrey on Wednesday.
In the absence of Messi, Inter Miami has struggled, losing two out of the three matches played without him. The team suffered a 4-0 defeat against New York Red Bulls in their last outing, highlighting the impact of Messi’s absence on the team’s performance. Prior to Messi’s injury, Miami was undefeated in the five games he played, showcasing his importance to the team’s success.
The upcoming MLS matchup between Inter Miami and NYCFC will be the first meeting this season between the two teams. NYCFC is looking to end a three-game losing streak on the road and improve on their performance from last season, where they went 9-11-14 overall and struggled with an away record of 1-8-8. With Miami leading the Eastern Conference with 12 goals, the team will need to find a way to continue their offensive prowess in Messi’s absence against a tough NYCFC side.
Player Signings and Injuries
In light of Messi’s absence and the recent trade of right back DeAndre Yedlin to FC Cincinnati, Inter Miami signed defender Marcelo Weigandt on loan from Boca Juniors for the remainder of the MLS season. Additionally, Argentina under-23 midfielder Federico Redondo, who joined the team last month, will also miss the upcoming match due to an injury to his left lateral collateral ligament. These changes in the squad present additional challenges for Miami as they look to maintain their position at the top of the Eastern Conference.
Lionel Messi’s absence due to injury poses a significant challenge for Inter Miami as they prepare to face NYCFC. The team will need to regroup and find ways to compensate for Messi’s contributions both on and off the field in order to secure a positive result in their upcoming matches.