The loss in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup has hit Inter Miami hard.
Javier Mascherano’s team has failed to bounce back in the league, registering only one win in their last four matches and suffering a heavy defeat last night in the derby against Orlando.
The 0–3 home loss, despite Lionel Messi starting the match, proved too much to overcome.
In fact, the Argentine star voiced his frustration with the officiating in the American league after the match.
“I think we played a good first half. We attacked, created chances, they were defending and clearing the ball. Then, from a strange play, they scored: one of their players passed the ball to the goalkeeper, and the referee told me he didn’t know the rule, that he didn’t understand it… The goalkeeper then made a long pass and they scored. I think it’s time we talk about the level of refereeing in MLS,” said the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
“The truth is, losing another match like this makes you feel bad. We were already coming off a series of negative results, but we have to keep working and thinking about the future. We have three or four matches left this month, and we want to finish it in the best way possible before starting the Club World Cup,” Messi added.
“Now we’ll see if we’re really a team, in tough times—because when everything is going well, everything is easy. But when difficult moments like this arrive, we need to be more united than ever, to be a real team. We’ll start preparing for the match against Philadelphia,” Messi concluded.
