The Argentine strategist for Inter Miami, Gerardo “Tata” Martino, commented this Monday at the press conference prior to Tuesday’s game against Philadelphia Union, for the Leagues Cup semifinals, that the great physical and motivational state in which he finds Lionel Messi is due to his triumph last December with Argentina.
In Martin’s words, Messi is free of the pressure that followed him throughout his career by winning a title with Argentina and not just any cup, but the World Cup in Qatar 2022.
“There is a part (of his change) that I do not associate so much with the World Cup, I do not know if it is after the Copa América, which has to do with the leadership and not only football that he has on the field and that we saw in fullness in the World Cup”, said Martino.
Messi, who accumulate eight goals and three assists In five games with Inter Miami, it has felt good to have on the bench, with whom he had already shared in the 2013-2014 season at FC Barcelona.
“There is a change that is fundamental and it is to be able to get the backpack off of what for him was surely always a desirea necessity, to win with the Argentine team”, he continued.
“And he won a lot of things with Argentina. The Selection has had a great transformation after the arrival of the other Lionel (Scaloni). I see Messi with the same desire to compete and win, I don’t have to explain that, but I see him much calmer, happier,” Martino insisted.
The Inter Miami coach also said that Messi’s happiness is due to the work environment he found in soccer in the United States.
“The United States allows you to continue working in soccer, but within a framework of normality, normality that cannot be found elsewhere,” he said.
Messi had an unbeatable impact on American soccer and guided Inter Miami to the semifinals of the Leagues Cup, the new tournament that measures MLS teams against those of Liga MX.
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