How did coach Martino convince Messi to sit on the bench in MLS?

Convincing Lionel Messi to come on as a substitute is no easy task and Inter Miami coach Gerardo Martino understands it. La Pulga doesn't like to watch games from the bench and Tata knows this from his time with Argentina and Barcelona. However, he did explain how to convince Messi to come on as a substitute against the New York RB, including prioritizing physical care.

“We couldn't separate ourselves from the plan because doing so would bet Leo's fitness. We are not here to destroy the player, but to give him the best performance. The conversation with him was only to explain that we had three games in a week, that we were going through a huge amount of wear and tear and had to stop at some point,” Martino explained after the war. won 2-0 against New York RB in the MLS.

Although Inter Miami fans want to see Messi in every game, the obvious truth is that Messi needs to give his strength to Argentina's team to compete in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in South America. Therefore, Martino knew he would have to balance the presence of the captain to avoid negative fitness problems.

In this regard, Tata said, Messi's absence from playing for the national team has been taken into account and is part of the team's work plan: "Leo will come to the national team, he will quit. missed at least 3 games this year and the same will happen next year. We have to understand that when he leaves, the team has to maintain credibility."

Similarly, Martino insists that he understands the annoyance of fans who pay to watch Messi but discover that he is only on the bench: "I don't have to apologize to them, but somehow I understand the request. their. We can't just be guided by the will of the people."