The Argentine opened the scoring for Inter Miami in last year’s Leagues Cup final but the USMNT defender believes they can contain Messi this time.
William GittinsWillGittUpdate: Mar 7th, 2024 18:04 EST0
Steve RobertsUSA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
How do you stop Lionel Messi? It’s a question that players, coaches and managers have been asking themselves for quite some time, and no one has yet come up with a definitive answer.
Messi and Inter Miami travel to Nashville SC for the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup clash on Thursday evening. The Argentine scored a stunning goal from the edge of the box when these two sides met in the Leagues Cup final last year.
Ahead of the CONCACAF rematch, Nashville captain Walker Zimmerman was asked how his side planned to keep Messi quiet.
“People have been trying to p it out for decades,” Zimmerman replied. “I think we have done a good job in the past, the past few times that we’ve played them. It’s about not being afraid, about being fearless. You have to approach the game in the same way that you would otherwise.”
These are the numbers of Messi 🇦🇷 in the @LeaguesCup with @InterMiamiCFWill he be able to repeat them in the #ConcaChampions? 🤨 pic.twitter.com/cQ8iZhcMCP
— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) March 7, 2024
“Be aware of where he is on the field, try to limit his space and try to limit his ability to run at you with pace, because when you give him that time and space he can pin-point a shot or a pass. Being close to him is probably the most important thing.”
Nashville aware of Inter Miami threat
Inter Miami began the 2024 campaign with two positive results, a 2-0 home victory over Real Salt Lake in the season opener and a hard-fought draw against LA Galaxy on the road. The Herons looked good, but not great.
That all changed in last weekend’s Turnpike Derby victory as Inter Miami put five goals past a strong Orlando City side. Two goals apiece for Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez was the first real output from their rekindled on-field relationship and it served as a warning to all who will face them this year.
Ahead of Thursday’s game, Nashville head coach Gary Smith said: “What we’ve seen in the opening exchanges of the season is an improved Miami, certainly with the ball. The last game against Orlando typified exactly what they’re about and what they’re capable of.”
