Lionel Messi no dey among the eleven players wey start for Inter Miami against New York Red Bulls, as head coach Cristian Gonzalez decide to leave the Argentine star on the bench for the match at Sports Illustrated Stadium.
World Soccer Talk report say Messi no dey injured, and the decision come just hours after e return from Spain. Messi travel go Oviedo to receive the Princess of Asturias Award for Sports on October 23, and e fly back to the United States right after the ceremony. That trip leave am little time to recover or train with the team before the match.
According to the report, Gonzalez choice appear to be about rest. The situation of the match also make the call easier for the coach, because Inter Miami don already clinch a spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs, while Nashville SC don already secure the Supporters’ Shield. BBC also list the New York RB versus Inter Miami fixture among the Major League Soccer stats and head-to-head cases.
The bench decision come after Messi show form in Inter Miami previous match, where e score two goals as the team beat Atlanta 3-1, according to Punch Newspapers.
For that same match day, Luis Suárez enter the club record books. Inter Miami confirm say the striker become the second player in the club history to reach 100 goal contributions.
