Lionel Messi is set to participate in his inaugural final with Inter Miami tomorrow, and the team is resolute in their pursuit of claiming their inaugural championship. The recipient of the Ballon d’Or award on seven occasions has showcased his dominance right from his initial match, netting a remarkable nine goals across six games. This remarkable feat has propelled Miami into the final of the Leagues Cup, scheduled for Saturday, where they are slated to contend against Nashville SC.
Expressing his sentiments, Messi articulated on Thursday that bestowing Inter Miami with their debut trophy would be an “extraordinary” and “exquisite” achievement. The team had endured a challenging season languishing at the lower end of Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference standings until Messi’s arrival in South Florida last month.
However, the situation has taken an impressive turn.
The legendary Ballon d’Or winner has exhibited his prowess since his inaugural appearance, finding the back of the net nine times in six matches, which has steered Miami into the Leagues Cup final. This upcoming encounter presents a momentous opportunity for them to vie for victory.
Messi conversed with reporters, conveyed through an interpreter, “It would undoubtedly be an extraordinary accomplishment, both for me personally and for the devoted supporters of the club. This achievement would not only reflect the monumental transformations that have been implemented within the club but would also solidify its standing as a global benchmark. Attaining a championship would significantly contribute to these goals.”
He continued, “It’s truly a remarkable prospect. Considering the setbacks we had encountered recently, as evidenced by our string of unsuccessful matches (with no wins in the past 10 league games), we recognized the favorable chance to reverse our trajectory.”
After a stint of two seasons with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), where he clinched victories in France’s top tier and guided Argentina to triumph in the Qatar World Cup in December, Messi has fostered a culture of triumph with Inter Miami. This has simultaneously cast the spotlight on a club co-owned by the illustrious former England captain and Manchester United icon, David Beckham.
While the abrupt turnaround astonished many observers, Messi affirmed that both he and the team were not taken aback by these developments.
Inter Miami, under the leadership of newly-appointed Argentine coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino and bolstered by signings like Messi’s former Barcelona teammates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, have secured a slot in the Concacaf Champions League through their commendable Leagues Cup performance.
The top three finishers in the Leagues Cup gain entry to the Concacaf Champions League, with the champions automatically progressing to the round of 16.
“I arrived here with the aspiration of replicating the successes I had achieved in my previous sporting endeavors,” Messi elucidated. His trophy collection boasts an array of accolades, including 10 La Liga titles with Barcelona, victories in the UEFA Champions League and Copa America, and even an Olympic gold medal. He added, “The impending final is a surprise only for those who are not privy to our rigorous training and our day-to-day endeavors. From our standpoint, we are thoroughly equipped for this challenge. We are prepared to compete and clinch this championship.”
Source: Reuters
