Idman.biz
"Inter Miami" settled for a goalless draw with "Charlotte" in the last round of the MLS. The main point of interest for the fans was Lionel Messi's absence from the squad.
Idman.Biz reports that the Argentine striker's absence is due to a strategic decision, not an injury. The technical staff gave him a rest to protect Messi, who played 90 minutes in the CONCACAF Champions Cup match against Nashville a few days earlier.
The rotation in the team did not end there. Rodrigo De Paul, one of the key names in the squad, also missed this match. Although Luis Suarez was in the starting lineup in the attacking line, he had difficulty scoring without Messi.
After the match, assistant coach Javier Morales stated that the decision was made collectively:
"We play on a tight schedule on Wednesdays and Saturdays. We have an important home game ahead of us. Therefore, protecting Messi was the right decision."
The meeting was also memorable for the expulsion of head coach Javier Mascherano from the game. The specialist, who received two consecutive yellow cards in extra time, left the technical zone. Morales noted that the referee was overly sensitive in this decision and that Mascherano's energy was misunderstood.
It should be noted that "Inter Miami" has collected seven points in the first four games of the season.
