“it-is-not-an-easy-decision”:-tata-martino-concerned-about-messi's-presence-in-the-us-open-cup-final“It is not an easy decision”: Tata Martino concerned about Messi's presence in the US Open Cup final
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By Joiner Martínez

Sep 25, 2023, 7:32 PM EDT

In just two days Inter Miami will play a new final, this time of the US Open Cup against Houston Dynamo and where Gerardo Martino wants to count on Lionel Messi no matter what, so he put together a plan for the captain of the Argentine National Team.

Messi did not play in the classic this Sunday against Orlando City (they tied 1-1) but he would do so on Wednesday in the final, which will begin at 9:30 p.m. For this, “Tata” knows that he will not be able to count on the best player in the world in optimal condition, but that he will be able to use him.

Martino dosed Messi’s load of minutes, so he could start from the bench to enter the hottest moment of the game and seek his second title with “Las Garzas”, after winning the Leagues Cup, on August 20.

“Let’s see day by day. I’ll talk to him to see what he tells me and how he feels. It is not an easy decision, but it will take time until we make the best decision,” said Martino, who will wait for Messi until Wednesday.

Inter Miami traveled to Orlando without Messi, absent due to a muscle problem, nor the Spanish Jordi Alba, also with muscle discomfort, nor Sergi Busquets, who had a migraine.

“Busquets had a migraine problem and when he has that he has vision problems, but I don’t think he will have a problem for Wednesday,” he said.

Martino was satisfied with a draw that keeps Inter Miami in the fight for a place in the postseason.

“Later we will see if the point serves what we are looking for, but if you think about it as an isolated match it was fine. The only thing I asked the footballers was to play this match thinking about the importance of the result in achieving qualification,” he said.

“Teams that have little chance of fighting even show it in their ways of playing. We have few chances, but we continue fighting. It’s a race against time. “I don’t know what the rest of the teams will think, but we would make it to the postseason well,” he added.

Keep reading:

Messi has no injury: Studies reveal that he will be able to play in the US Open Cup final against Houston, according to the Argentine press
Messi confessed what his role could be in the world of football after hanging up his boots [Video]
No Messi, No Party: Inter Miami complicated its Playoff aspirations after being beaten by Atlanta United

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