Inter Miami’s head coach, Javier Mascherano, firmly dismissed the notion that the team performs better in Luis Suárez’s absence. He emphasized the importance of every player on the roster for the upcoming match against FC Cincinnati on Sunday as they aim to secure a spot in the Eastern Conference final.
Miami advanced to the knockout stage of the MLS playoffs after defeating Nashville SC in a best-of-three series, clinching the final game 4-0 without Suárez, who served a one-game suspension for violent conduct.
“We’ve played 55 games this season, winning 31 of them, mostly with Luis Suárez on the pitch. It’s not my style to single out any player; that would be disrespectful to Suárez’s career,” Mascherano said on Saturday.
“For a team like ours, with a long season ahead, we knew that to achieve our goals, we would need all our players. I still believe that every player is essential for our advancement. As a coach, I will make decisions based on what I think the game requires. Each match is unique; Cincinnati plays differently than Nashville.”
Suárez played a significant role during the regular season, contributing 10 goals and 10 assists in 28 matches, helping Miami finish third in the Eastern Conference.
The club is preparing to face FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, aiming to advance to the Eastern Conference final for the first time in franchise history.
When asked if Sunday’s match could be viewed as the most crucial since the team joined MLS, Mascherano chuckled before rejecting the notion.
“We’ve said this all season, whether it was the Concacaf Champions League semifinal or the Club World Cup. It seems there’s always a more important game to look forward to,” he shared.
The coach added that he has not entertained thoughts of losing the match, focusing instead on preparing for the challenge against Cincinnati with his players.
“Winning is my only mindset. The team has reached this stage of the season in great shape, not just in terms of our performance but also in the positive atmosphere and training sessions,” he noted.
– 2025 MLS playoffs conference semis preview: Who makes the final four?
– Sergio Busquets on future of LaLiga abroad: Players want clarity
Inter Miami enters the Eastern Conference semifinal with a largely healthy squad, despite some players heading off for the November international window.
Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul, who recently played for Argentina in a friendly against Angola, have returned to regular training, while Ian Fray is a doubt for Sunday’s match after picking up an injury while with the Jamaican national team.