Chicago (USA), Aug 31 (EFE).- Argentine Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino, coach of Inter Miami, said on Saturday that he decided in agreement with Leo Messi that he would not play the match won at the Chicago Fire field in order to try to fully recover in the next fifteen days and try to line him up on September 14 against the Philadelphia Union.
“Leo, as we said, they are fine, with a lot of time training with the group. We felt that with the time that this game (against the Fire) could give us, maybe we had the chance to think about the next 15 days,” Martino said in the press conference after the game won 4-1 with a double from Uruguayan Luis Suárez at Soldier Field in Chicago.
“We talked and we saw that this second option was better and we could see if we could have him for the game against Philadelphia,” he added.
Messi is suffering from ankle discomfort after the injury he suffered on July 14 in the Copa America final and did not travel to Chicago.
Inter Miami, solid leader of the MLS East, easily beat the Fire with two goals from Suárez.
“Luis has probably been the best on the pitch. But I want to focus on the game and everything he gives us so that the team can have circulation, the passing possibilities he offers us. From him we can play in other parts of the pitch,” Martino said. EFE
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