

Head coach Javier Mascherano described Inter Miami’s first half against Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup last-16 tie as a “bloodbath”.
The MLS club were outclassed by Europe’s recent Champions League winners in the first 45 minutes, going in 4-0 down at half-time after two goals from Joao Neves, one from Achraf Hakimi, and an own goal.
Lionel Messi, playing against the club he left to move to the U.S. in 2023, helped Miami put in an improved second-half performance. With no further goals in the game, PSG progress to the quarter-finals, where they will face the winners of Flamengo vs Bayern Munich.
Messi has been a central part of FIFA’s marketing of its expanded club competition, which has also acted as a precursor to next summer’s men’s World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Miami were controversially given the host nation club spot at the Club World Cup by winning the MLS Supporters’ Shield.
Advertisement
Speaking after the match, Mascherano felt the improved second half showed MLS clubs can compete, but that the sixth-minute goal from Neves was damaging.
“My take of the tournament is we have accomplished the goals we set for ourselves,” he told reporters. “It was crystal clear that when we are competing, we would be able to do so to a certain level. It’s right in your face, we see it clearly. We have met the expectations set on us.
“Regrettably, when they scored a goal so early, it was difficult… it was just too easy the way it was scored. The first half was kind of like a bloodbath, but the second half was a bit slower, and we showed everything we are doing in MLS.
“I reiterate I am proud of what my team has accomplished. Going forward, we will focus on the future and leverage our entire experience for domestic competitions.”
PSG finally won their first Champions League after beating Inter 5-0 last month. Mascherano was well aware of the dangers posed by PSG, but was impressed with his players’ resolve.
“PSG are full and fraught with so many tools. You cannot cover the entire field. I wanted to be on the pitch with my players, supporting them.
“The message at half-time was that we have to live with this. It’s difficult when it’s 4-0 and you know you don’t have much chance, you don’t expect to change the result, but it was important to show a good image to people. The players did really well in the second half, they tried to do their best, this is the way we want to play.”
When asked about what MLS can do the bridge the gap to major European teams, Mascherano said: “I’m not the proper person to talk about this. People involved in MLS know better than me what they have to do to progress in the league and be competitive.”
(Top photo: Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
Be the first to leave a comment