The worst thing for Inter Miami is the fact that Lionel Messi injury worries have come at the most opportune time. The club is heavily engaged in pre-season planning. Expectations are high. The pressure is real. Such a prompt disappointment has changed the air about the camp of the Herons.
This was confirmed this week by inter Miami, which reported that Lionel Messi sustained a muscle strain in his left hamstring at a pre-season friendly in Ecuador. The injury did not manifest itself clearly during the match. No expression of discomfort was seen. That was even more concerning to both the fans and the staff.
The timing is far from ideal. Javier Mascherano is training his team to retain the first MLS Cup in their history. Momentum matters. Fitness matters even more. Messi is the beating heart of this team. Any missing, and even temporary, brings the balance wrong.
This is not a new experience to Inter Miami. The same hamstring problem prevented four games of Messi last season, both in MLS and the Leagues Cup. Their talisman was missing, which indicated that Miami is as vulnerable as its attacking rhythm. It also pointed out the way that the club is very keen when it comes to his workload.
A conservative approach has been adopted by the club. In its release, Inter Miami mentioned that Messi would resume training based on his clinical and functional improvement. No timeline was offered. That silence speaks volumes. Every recovery would have to be done patiently at the age of 38.
There are external reports that indicate the injury is not serious. That brings some relief. Nevertheless, the MLS season is on the verge of starting, and Messi is currently running out of time. Minutes in pre-season are critical particularly when there is a new tactical set up.
In my opinion, this injury is rather a problem of panic than a problem of control. Inter Miami can not afford to rush their star. The winning over the short term is long term success that comes with ensuring that Messi is fit at the right time. It might be necessary to be restrained rather than risky during the first few weeks.
