Head coach Gerardo Martino insists his Inter Miami side is committed to face every tournaments this season with the aim of winning.
Diego GorostietaDiegsGorostietaAndy HallEstados UnidosUpdate: Mar 1st, 2024 17:25 EST0
MEGAN BRIGGSAFP
For Inter Miami, the objectives in 2024 are crystal clear. The Fort Lauderdale-based franchise knows it and have been straightforward about expressing it. In Friday’s press conference prior to this weekend’s MLS matchday 2 clash against Orlando City, coach Gerardo Martino told the media about his team’s commitments and even obligations during the new campaign.
Messi’s Inter Miami keen to add to their silverware collection
Martino reasoned that because of the star-studded squad he is fortunate to be in charge of and the quality of his players, Inter Miami should not settle for just one tournament this year. In fact, he very openly expressed his intention to compete in, and aim to win, all of the tournaments his team is involved in, without prioritizing any one of them.
The Herons are involved in four competitions in 2024: the MLS, Concacaf Champions Cup, Leagues Cup and US Open Cup in order of importance. The team tops the Eastern Conference on four points after the first two games and are battling on two fronts in what will be a busy week with Orlando City on MLS matchday 3 this weekend followed by the first leg of the Champions Cup Round of 16 against Nashville.
“We have tried to put together a squad that will allow us to be competitive on all fronts,” Martino told reporters. “Then, of course, you (the press) after seeing the lineups of one match compared to another, draw your own conclusions. What we are trying to do is win the league, and the Concachampions. We are getting stronger. We have a more competitive team and for that reason, we have the obligation not to leave any competition aside”.
⚽️El @InterMiamiCF se prepara para el tercer partido de la temporada 2024 de la #MLS donde buscará sumar su segunda victoria ante @OrlandoCitySC 🔥🎥: @fpetrocelli nos tiene la previa 👇 pic.twitter.com/DbXdEUxJU3
— AS USA (@US_diarioas) March 1, 2024
No concern with Messi, Suárez, Busquets and Alba
Another point that Martino addressed at the press conference concerned his four star players, the so-called ‘Fantastic Four’, AKA Messi, Suárez, Busquets and Jordi Alba who were recently spotted training apart from the main group, which opened up all kinds of speculation. Busquets has been struggling with an ankle issue for some time although he lined up alongside the other three in both of the league games so far, against Real Salt Lake and LA Galaxy.
