MIAMI — Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano emphasizes the need for his players to stay focused and not be swayed by the events surrounding the grand opening of Nu Stadium on Saturday night. Instead, he encourages them to use the energy from the celebration as motivation to secure a win.
The match against Austin FC will be a significant milestone for the Herons, marking their long-awaited debut at the 26,700-seat facility at Miami Freedom Park. The team has been playing at a temporary venue in Fort Lauderdale since joining MLS in 2020.
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“We need to be mindful of how we handle our emotions,” Mascherano told reporters on Thursday. “This is a celebratory occasion for the club as they finally open the stadium they have dreamed of for so long, one that took significant effort to create.”
“Now that it has come to fruition, we must remember that our main goal for the match is to keep the momentum going, especially following our impressive performance in New York. The best way to celebrate will be through a victory after the game.”
“It’s important not to let ourselves get too caught up in the pre-match excitement, as such an atmosphere can sometimes lead to complacency. Instead, we ought to capture that positive energy and focus it on the field to achieve a win.”
The team conducted its first training session at Nu Stadium on Thursday morning, showcasing the new Bermudagrass pitch in front of fans and media.
Lionel Messi, Noah Allen, and Alex Shaw missed the latter part of the training due to their recent international commitments. Messi played the full 90 minutes in Argentina’s 5-0 win over Zambia in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.
“Neither Leo, Noah, nor Alex — who played on Tuesday and accrued the most minutes — were expected to participate fully today. We had planned it that way,” Mascherano explained.
“It has been less than 48 hours since they played, so we wanted them to engage in some light recovery exercises. This is simply our standard approach to ensuring the well-being of all our players. We had this arrangement set from the start.”
Mascherano later reassured that Messi is fit and should be available for Saturday’s match.
“He looked great — physically, he has no issues at all. Unless something unexpected arises, he will be playing on Saturday.”
Messi scored during Miami’s 3-2 victory over New York City FC before the international break, which propelled the MLS Cup champions to third place in the Eastern Conference.