Lionel Messi spoke about Inter Miami’s Club World Cup tournament after their 4-0 loss against Paris Saint-Germain.
Messi had one goal in the Club World Cup and made history with the team. They became the first MLS team to ever beat a European club in official competition and became the only MLS club to advance to the knock out rounds at this year’s Club World Cup. Speaking to Marcelo Benedetto after the match, here is what he had to say:
“PSG are a great team, the winners of the last Champions League and the truth is they’re doing very very well. It was what we expected.
“It was the match we anticipated, we tried to do our best, and well, we left a good impression in terms of the Club World Cup.
“There was a bit of a bitter feeling after the match with Palmeiras because we were winning 2-0 and we ended up drawing, which made us face this PSG team that’s much tougher. But it’s not a criticism, just a situation that could have been different because being up 2-0 and then conceding the equalizer with 10 minutes left left us with a bitter taste.
“I think we competed. Now that’s it, it’s over. We have to think about what’s coming next in our own tournament…”
Selling Taylor & Campano was big mistake. Inter Miami has no defense. Team downgraded from last season although it was said that they will make some good signing but no quality player is signed this season.
Can someone tell me how Almada’s season was in Lyon last season? I read somewhere it was inconsistent and would be bummed if true…………
His club form dont matter. He delivers goals & assists in last 4 games for national team.
No Almada had a good season at lyon. Just ignore the haters.
Almada’s season was solid if unspectacular. Lyon as a team was very inconsistent and Almada often played out of position on the right flank but despite all of that he played very well at times but nowhere near what he’s capable of because at his best Almada is world class and luckily the NT is seeing him at his best.
I really hope he stays in Europe and keep developing because under the right conditions Thiago can be a ballon D’or candidate.
I am more concerned how Argentine teams, powerhouse of South American continent were easily knocked whereas their Brazilian counterparts have posed some serious threat in the competition so far! Messi at this age needs some good and pacy wingers and a proper no9 to control the game with his playmaking and Suarez is 5 to 7 years passed that! However, Scaloni needs to sort out our issues in the flank! Tagliafico and Molina at best are backup and squad players and if Scaloni is planning on going to the world cup with them as starters and Montiel, Otamendi, Pezella and Medina as backups then we will be exposed in the flanks! Similar to how Sampaoli had us exposed in 2018 with aging players all over the field!
I have been saying what you are saying for some time and it has been dismissed by many on this forum.
The team has many issues that arise from the failure of giving young players an opportunity to play. The loyalty and worship of old players is disgusting frankly. They are legends, they were legends, but it’s time to bring out the broom and sweep out some of the old. The players themselves are telling you this by their club choices. In the case of some young players like Garnacho, Varela, Medina, Veliz, Prestianni, they just never developed at a high enough level up to now because of many reasons. Mastantuono and Carboni are critical, along with Paz. But guys like Barco never has been good enough to replace Tagliafico. I said the problem we have is some players at critical positions are midgets, like Barco. Echeverri is very small also. Guys like Tagliafico, Otamendi, DePaul, Paredes, Messi, just can’t carry this team any more. Time is limited. Molina I have hope for because he has not been in great form for some time. This is the Simeone curse. But time is of the essence, and we may well be exposed against Spain. And for all the Messi worshippers, we need to move on. He can’t run. He isn’t the same player. He will be 39 at the next World Cup. It is pure insanity to think that he can play 120 minutes in an overtime game. I am not saying he wouldn’t be good as a super sub, but you cannot have a plan around a guy that can barely beat MLS teams on a regular basis. Let’s honor him for what he was, the greatest of all time. But asking him to carry this team again only dishonors and tarnishes his legacy. The time to replace guys is now. And I don’t see any Enzo Fernandez’ or Julian Alvarez on the horizon, so we must try new guys to improve our speed, defense, and midfield or it could be disastrous summer at the World Cup.
Pezella is not worth to be in the legend conversation. His defense was atrocious since Copa 2021 especially against Colombia, vs France & Netherlands in 2022 . Scaloni should avoid calling old guards like pezella, Meza, acuna. Montiel massively downgraded.
As for the young players you mentioned, Veliz and prestianni are not world cup materials. Veliz is going back to Argentina.
Agree with you on some points like Messi, Otamendi, Paredes, Tagliafico et al being too old to carry the team anymore.
I love Messi with all my heart but he shouldn’t be starting unless the opposing team plans to park the bus. Every time Lio is on the field against physical teams like Colombia the team suffers because having Messi there without the ball is like playing with 10 players instead of 11.
I like Tagliafico alot but for some odd reason Scaloni refuses to give Max Barnebei a look.
I like Paredes (did well in the last WCQ game) but I want to see Perrone or Barranechea tried out. They’re younger, fitter and faster and now that Leandro is at Boca he’s going to drop an extra level.
Otamendi still plays at a competitive level but he shouldn’t be starting ahead of Balerdi who showed excellent form against Chile and should’ve been rewarded with another start against Colombia, instead Scaloni went with Otamendi. Inexplicable!
I do disagree with you on Argentina’s upcoming talent, I think Medina and Varela have developed well in France and Portugal and I think Garnacho is a talented kid who needs to leave Man U and find a place where he can realise his potential.
Talents like Paz, Simeone, Soule, Almada, Castro, Perrone etc….leave me with alot of hope for the future. Not to mention players like Alcaraz, Buonanotte who could do good things in England and potential prodigies like Diablito and Mastantuono who could turn out to be real prodigies if they develop properly.
Argentina NT is not a youth team to develop players. Neither of your names are good enough to be a starter. Perrone is good? Then why he had zero chance to play in City? Barrenechea the same case in Juventus then in Aston Villa. Our talents all fail to play in big/stronger clubs sadly then go to a very weak team and start to play with zero pressure. Perrone, Barrenechea, Soule, Nico Paz, Barco, Buonanotte and a lot more, Prestianni, Echeverri, Masta will be the next? Finally at least Soule started to play in Roma after 6 months struggling on a much higher level than Frosinone. All signs show these talents are not ready to play in NT.
Scaloni gives more than fair chances for the deserved young players and the performing ones all stayed in the team (Julian, Enzo, Macca, Almada).
Can barely beat MLS teams? LOL Messi beat the all-time MLS points record with Miami last season and have a good chance to win the regular season again without Champions League and CWC matches. He beat a european team first time in MLS history and qualified from group stages. His goal and assist stats are still crazy in MLS, much better than CR stats in Saudi. And dont forget than this Miami is a mid table club in reality, like the 20th best team in MLS in both season statistically (xGdifference/90) before him Miami was the stone cold last in the league in 2023 then he won the Leagues Cup single handedly with the same stone cold last MLS team. How? Just Messi, nothing else. Miracle category stuffs in a row.
This Maschis intro into miami affected there rhythm. HE looks a worst coach. His inexperience and inable to make unity in team visible
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