Inter Miami manager Tata Martino has voiced his apprehensions regarding Lionel Messi’s recovery ahead of their upcoming match against Orlando City on Saturday (March 2).
With only two games into the new MLS season, Martino expressed concern about relying too heavily on Messi in the early stages. He stressed the importance of managing Messi’s workload to avoid excessive strain. Martino stated to reporters before the match (via GOAL):
“What worries me most today is the day-to-day life and how he is recovering game by game. I feel that in these first two games, we have resorted to him in each game in an exaggerated way and that it has caused him significant wear and tear.”
Martino emphasized the need for the rest of the team to step up and create opportunities, alleviating some of the pressure on Messi. He added:
“And that is what we have to look for in him, that the team finds him to make plays, but sometimes, they find him to finish those plays. I feel that he has had too much wear and tear in these two games, and That is also my responsibility to make the team work in such a way that we can use it diversely.”
Despite Messi’s strong start to the season with a goal and an assist in his first two appearances, Martino is keen on managing his workload effectively. Inter Miami currently leads the Eastern Conference standings, having played two games, so maintaining Messi’s fitness for the long haul is imperative.
