Inter Miami star Lionel Messi didn’t costume for Saturday’s match at Atlanta United, the second match he missed this week.
Atlanta is amongst 5 MLS stadiums with synthetic turf surfaces. Messi and defender Jordi Alba didn’t costume for Atlanta United’s 5-2 win. Inter Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino stated the choice to carry out Messi was “as a result of he has muscular fatigue and it was prudent to depart him.”
Atlanta United proprietor Arthur Clean stated he believes the FieldTurf at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a floor seen by some gamers as extra taxing on their our bodies than grass, was not the explanation Messi remained in Miami.
Clean referred to Messi’s assertion after signing with Inter Miami that he would not keep away from taking part in on a man-made floor.
“I believe he made that call,” Clean stated.
“I do not actually have an opinion on that. I would just repeat what he stated in his press convention, that he has competed on synthetic turf since he was a teen and to some extent as knowledgeable. I do not suppose it had something to do together with his choice. I believe he suffered some form of harm, nonetheless minor it may be.”
Atlanta United coach Gonzalo Pineda stated he discovered about Messi’s choice on social media.
“I checked the Twitter account to know he was not coming,” Pineda stated, including he inspired his gamers to stay targeted regardless of the eye given Messi’s standing.
“Truthfully, I advised the gamers, there are a variety of issues on the market within the environment and every part appears to be about Inter Miami. We have now to show that to about us.”
Clean spoke at a information convention earlier than the match to debate particulars of Friday’s announcement that the U.S. Soccer Federation plans to construct a nationwide coaching middle in Atlanta. The challenge is backed by a USD 50 million donation from Clean.
Clean stated NFL analysis since 2021 confirmed accidents on FieldTurf and pure grass to be “about the identical.”
Falcons CEO Wealthy McKay, a member of the NFL competitors committee who additionally attended the information convention, additionally stated analysis confirmed accidents on FieldTurf and grass to be equally frequent.
Messi’s absence for the Main League Soccer match was a disappointment for a crowd of 71,635 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Many followers wore pink Inter Miami shirts with Messi’s identify on the again. Flozel Marriott, a local of Jamaica and Atlanta resident who beforehand lived in Miami, attended the sport together with his spouse, daughters and nephew. All wore Messi jerseys, although he stated he in any other case helps Atlanta United.
“I used to be an Argentina fan rising up and I’ve at all times been a fan of Messi,” Marriott stated.
“I am an Atlanta fan as effectively, however at this time I am right here supporting Messi. I would like my youngsters to see a legend.”
Marriott was stunned to listen to Messi wouldn’t attend the sport. “No, I didn’t know that,” Marriott stated, his household.
“If he is not, they are going to be upset. That is the place we spent all the cash, simply to see him.”
Messi watched from the bench on Tuesday in Argentina’s World Cup qualifying win at Bolivia. Argentina supervisor Lionel Scaloni stated Messi was not feeling effectively.
Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino stated on Friday he’ll keep away from overworking the 36-year-old Messi throughout a busy portion of the crew’s schedule.
“We might be cautious with him as a result of we’ve a variety of essential video games in a brief span,” stated Martino, the previous Atlanta coach.
Miami has matches at residence towards Toronto on Wednesday and at Orlando on September 24.
“That is one thing that we knew would occur in some unspecified time in the future,” Martino stated.
