Lionel Messi returned to Inter Miami training on Tuesday, but the Argentine star is still in doubt to play against Monterrey in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, said Argentine coach Gerardo Martino.
The 36-year-old forward has not played since March 13, when he suffered muscle overload in his right leg in the second leg against Nashville SC in the round of 16 of the regional tournament.
Inter Miami will host the Rayados on Wednesday night in the first leg of one of the quarterfinal series of this competition that rewards its winner with a ticket to play in the Club World Cup next year.
“Tomorrow (today) we will define, not today,” said Martino in a press conference about Messi’s status. “Leo trained, but there are 24 hours left.”
“Tata” Martino added that, although his desire is to have Messi in a key match, he does not plan to risk it if he is not fully recovered.
“Although tomorrow’s game is an important one, we are only in April, for us this is just beginning and we cannot put the conditions of our player at risk,” declared the Argentine coach. “We will determine what is best for Leo, we will try to make the right decisions.”
Because of the injury, Messi missed the two matches that the Argentina team played in the United States at the end of March, as well as three other MLS matches.
The presence of the “Flea” is fundamental for Inter Miami’s ambitions. Las Herons have lost two of the three games without Messi’s presence on the field and are unbeaten in the five games he has played, scoring five goals and two assists.
In addition to Messi, Inter Miami has Benjamin Cremaschi, Federico Redondo, Facundo Farías, Serhiy Kryvtsov, Ian Frey, Robbie Robinson and Nicolás Freire injured.
Martino said that only Freire — an Argentine center back who arrived from Mexican club Pumas before the start of the current season — and Messi could play against Monterrey.
“We have to face the game without any excuses and even with the difficulties we are having, compete and compete well,” Martino added. “We want to compete even with the absences and when we have everyone we will be stronger.”
Monterrey, the team with the highest payroll in Liga MX, faces the series after going undefeated last weekend and is second in the Clausura.
“I have the same nerves when you play an important match, which is what the situation of playing against a difficult opponent like Monterrey generates,” said Luis Suárez, the Uruguayan forward who is in his first season with Inter Miami. “We are excited because the club has never won (CONCACAF) and people are waiting, it is up to us to prove it.”
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