It looks like Inter Miami has finally found the right formula in MLS this season. After four consecutive victories, the Herons lead the Western Conference table with 24 points, three points ahead of Cincinnati, which has a game in hand. This week, Tata Martino's team has been preparing for this weekend's trip to Montreal, which won the reverse fixture in Miami last March, so another tough matchup is on the cards.
On Friday, the team completed its preparations at the training complex in Fort Lauderdale before heading to Canada. Before boarding the plane, Martino previewed the game with the press.
Jordi Alba returns to training, but will not take any risks
The main news from the coach's press conference concerns full-back Jordi Alba, who was excluded from the team for this trip. The Spanish full-back has missed the team's last three matches (Nashville, New England Revolution and New York City Red Bulls). With a hamstring injury.
However, while Alba will not travel to Canada, Martino is hopeful that the defender will be back for the next match, against Orlando City next Wednesday. Stay home too Diego Gomez, who sprained his ankle in the first half of a 3-1 win over Nasseville. Complete the list of victims Federico Redondowho was discharged with a torn lateral collateral ligament (LCL) in his left knee, Facundo Farias And Ian Fry (both ACL) and Robbie Robinson (calf)
“Jordi is training normally, but we will play another match so we do not take any risks. Ian Fry is training normally, but he is not ready to play and needs to build up his playing minutes; Martino explained that Fede and Diego still have some time on the sidelines.
Inter Miami wanted Tata Martino was seen against New York Red Bulls
After giving an update on his team's fitness, the coach spoke The wonderful partnership formed by Messi, Suarez and Matias Rojas in attack, He highlighted Paraguay's rapid adaptation to the team.
“In training, it was clear that this was a partnership that could workUsually in any team when there are players who play well and have good understanding, this happens naturally. As I said, we are taking things step by step with Matthias. He played 45 minutes that day and he is Adapt more to the team's needs because it offers different options. We used him in a central role and on the left side where he probably played little. The coach added: “We are trying to accommodate him and hope that the whole team will be ready and available to play soon.”
Tata admitted that the second half of last week's 6-2 win over the New York Red Bulls was the kind of performance he would like to see from his team in every match.. However, he feels there are still a number of areas that need work, especially the shortcomings the team showed in the first half of that match. These weaknesses prevent the team from playing matches calmly, even when it dominates its competitors.
“What we did is interesting because we were also able to manage all aspects of the game. When we needed to have possession, we did that and we did it well; when we scored a goal, we followed it up with high pressing and we did that well too. It's very satisfying to see your team controlling everything An aspect of a match against a very strong team like the Red Bulls, even for just 45 minutes. But we also have to talk about what happened in the first half. By addressing what we didn't do well in the first half, we can improve as a team.He finished.
