Inter Miami will be missing their Spanish international left-back Jordi Alba for their opening match in the Club World Cup on Saturday against Egypt’s Al Ahly.
Miami’s head coach, Javier Mascherano, confirmed at a press conference on Friday that the former Barcelona defender will be unavailable for the Group A clash at Hard Rock Stadium.
Adding to the team’s woes, defensive midfielder Yannick Bright will also miss the tournament’s opener, which features 32 teams.
“Jordi and Yannick are out for this match, but we’re hopeful they’ll be ready for the second game,” stated the Argentine manager.
Miami is set to face Porto on Thursday in Atlanta, before concluding the group stage against Brazil’s Palmeiras back in South Florida.
Alba, suffering from a leg muscle injury, will be a significant loss for Mascherano, not only for his defensive skills but also for his ability to supply quality balls to Lionel Messi.
Bright had been instrumental in providing physicality to the midfield alongside the experienced but aging Sergio Busquets.
“Naturally, we would have preferred to have everyone fit and utilise our full squad, which would strengthen our position,” Mascherano added, expressing his disappointment that the club had not managed to secure additional players for the tournament.
Despite these challenges, the ex-Barcelona and Liverpool midfielder noted that his team is eager to take on the challenge of competing on an international platform.
“This is a unique competition, and we’re privileged to be a part of it. We’ve earned our spot here through our achievements last year, and it’s a fantastic opportunity for us to measure our capabilities,” he remarked.
Miami earned their place in the tournament as the representative of the host nation by winning the MLS Supporters’ Shield, awarded to the team with the best regular-season record.
However, they fell short in the MLS playoffs, losing to Atlanta in the first round, while the Los Angeles Galaxy captured the MLS Cup.
There was some surprise among the media when they arrived at the venue, as the markings on the field were not yet set due to ongoing work on the surface.
“Let’s hope the pitch is in optimal condition; FIFA has experience in such matters, but as I always say, we focus on what we can control,” Mascherano said.
Miami will be relying on the individual brilliance of Messi to compensate for their absences in other areas on the pitch.
Jose Riveiro, the Spanish coach of Al Ahly, asserts that his team, regarded as the most successful club in Africa, will not underestimate Miami due to the presence of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
“Above all, he possesses incredible skill and a brilliant understanding of the game. He remains the player he was in the final third, close to goal, and shares a strong connection with Busquets and Luis Suarez,” he noted.
“Our focus will be on limiting their service and trying to disrupt their plays. We recognise the importance of executing our game plan well to force Miami into making mistakes,” Riveiro added.
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Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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