'No secret formula' for injury-hit Miami amid Messi fitness concerns

Javier Mascherano insisted that there is "no secret formula" to keeping Lionel Messi fit and firing amid Inter Miami's growing injury concerns. 

Messi played 90 minutes in Miami's 3-0 defeat to FC Cincinnati in midweek, bringing an end to his record-breaking run of MLS games with multiple goals. 

Mascherano had been able to manage the Argentine's minutes at the start of the campaign after the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner had cited muscle complaints. 

The 38-year-old has featured prominently for the Herons in recent weeks, playing in all of their fixtures at the Club World Cup and the last four MLS matches. 

And while Mascherano has said he would like to take Messi out of the firing line, he explained he had little choice given Miami's growing injury issues in their squad. 

"We have to find a way to rest and still compete and win. There's no secret formula for that," Mascherano said. 

"We'll keep going from match to match, trying to go out there with the best and healthiest team possible.

"Next will be to obtain those three points against New York and hopefully get more of our injured players healthy."

One way in which Miami are looking to combat their injury issues is with new additions, with Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodrigo De Paul linked with a move to the MLS. 

It has been reported that De Paul will initially join the Herons on loan, where a contract option through to 2027 will be triggered to facilitate a move and sale in 2026.

The nature of the deal means De Paul won't have to be registered as a Designated Player, with the Argentina international insisting that the salary was not important.

"At one point I told Racing, 'I just want to play the Copa Libertadores. Don't pay me.' I wasn’t looking for money. I just wanted to be in a place where I felt wanted," De Paul said. 

"Sometimes, it's not about the financial side. It's how a club makes you feel. When Udinese gave me the No. 10 shirt, the same number Di Natale wore, I felt they trusted me.

"That matters more than a contract. I've worked hard, of course, but I'm not motivated by money. I need to feel valued. That's what pushes me."

Miami, however, will be turning their attention to a clash with the New York Red Bulls this weekend, a side who put on a five-star showing in their latest MLS fixture. 

The Red Bulls came from two goals down in the first half to beat the New England Revolution 5-3, led by Emil Forsberg and Eric Choupo-Moting's doubles. 

Sandro Schwarz's side are eighth in the Eastern Conference standings, and the Red Bulls head coach is relishing the challenge of taking on Miami. 

"Great, great, the response from the guys, the behaviour of them always to believe in the second half, and this was, for the whole group, very, very important," Schwarz said.

"We can learn a lot and now everyone is talking maybe from the second half. But me, too, we can learn a lot from the first half and when we feel free, and we are from the mental side, we have the quality. It's good.

"And then also that today we had this feeling of coming back like we did in the second half. It was great. But the first half, my responsibility, is clear."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

New York Red Bulls – Eric Choupo-Moting

Choupo-Moting was on fire for the Red Bulls against New England, with his brace taking his tally to 13 goals in the MLS this season, but he was also backed up by his captain. 

Indeed, in Forsberg and Choupo-Moting, it was the second time the duo both scored multiple goals in an MLS match (also in May against the LA Galaxy). The only other pair with two such games for the Red Bulls are Kenny Cooper and Thierry Henry (both in 2012).  

Inter Miami – Lionel Messi

Despite seeing his stellar run come to an end against Cincinnati last time out, Messi will be confident of returning to the scoresheet this weekend. He has scored a goal in all three of his matches against the Red Bulls.

They are one of three MLS teams he has scored in three straight regular-season matches against (New England Revolution and Philadelphia Union) but neither he nor any other Miami player has ever scored in four straight MLS games against one team.

MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

Miami has won their last two matches against the Red Bulls, both at home, scoring 10 goals in the process. They had won just three of their first nine against New York, totalling eight goals in those games.

Mascherano's team saw their five-game league win streak came to an end with a 3-0 loss against Cincinnati. It was Miami's third loss by three or more goals over their last 10 MLS matches after having just two such losses in their previous 60 games against MLS teams across all competitions.

The Red Bulls, meanwhile, overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat New England 5-3. It was the first time in club history that they won an MLS match by multiple goals after trailing by two or more.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

New York Red Bulls – 36.2%

Draw – 26.2%

Inter Miami – 37.6%