by Inter Miami trainer Javier Mascherano hopes that Lionel Messi’s memories of his unfortunate time in Paris Saint-Germain will fire him on Sunday between the two teams of the World Club Championship.
Miami was surprising qualifications from Group A after having hit Porto and drawn with Palmeiras and Al Ahl, and now stood the discouraging task of playing the recently crowned European champions.
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Messi came to Miami after two seasons in the French capital and made it clear that he hadn’t enjoyed his time with PSG.
“It is clear that it would be better for us if he was angry because he is one of these players who, if he has something in mind, gives a little more,” said Mascherano.
However, the Argentine coach was clear that the emotions would be less than when Messi has to do against PSG on European soil instead of standing in Atlanta.
“I think that’s in the past, it is a different story. Even the fact that it is here in the United States, I don’t think that the atmosphere will be the same, but we will try to play a great game. We know that we have to play a perfect game, and we will do it,” he said.
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After Miami had come to Miami in the Major League Soccer, he thought about his time in Paris, said it was “difficult”.
“I spent two years that I didn’t enjoy it. I was not happy every day, with the training sessions and the games it was difficult for me to adapt to all of this,” he said.
The eight-time balloon d’Or winner will be confronted with the club under Spanish coach Luis Enrique with the club.
Luis Enrique is a well -known face for some of the Miami teams playing in Barcelona below him.
– ‘He is the best’ –
Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Messi and Mascherano were all seen for Enriques Barca and won the heights under him in 2015.
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“I said it for endless times: for me he is the best – I think not only as a coach, but also how he manages the group,” said Alba, who also worked with the Spanish national team with Luis Enrique.
“He is a phenomenon. I am very happy to see him and all of his staff. I will hug him, but if the referee blows the opening whistle, try to beat him. What we are trying to do here,” added the left -back.
Suarez, who scored on Monday in 2-2 draw with Palmeiras, was also full of praise for the Spanish coach.
“For me, together with Maestro (Oscar) Tabarz from the (Uruguay) national team, he was the most important coach of my career, for what they taught me for what I learned with them in everyday life,” he said.
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“He is a trainer who influenced me very much. I already had a competitive DNA, but he gave me more. He taught me how I could move in a room in which I had to play a role that I was not used to and not to touch the ball much … Not to mention your personal level, a relationship with great respect and awareness of what he generated as a player.”
Mascherano said in his first club coach job that he was still a personal friend of the PSG trainer and his family.
“This is sometimes the nice thing about football. They are faced with such things and in my opinion I do not earn this as a coach. But yes, it will be a very nice opportunity. I always wish him all the best. This will not be the case on Sunday. I hope happiness will be on our side on Sunday.
SEV/RCW
