Javier Mascherano believes his Inter Miami team could pull off a stunning upset against European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 of the Club World Cup this Sunday, even as he acknowledges that his squad is not on the same level as the French powerhouse.
With Argentinian icon Lionel Messi spearheading the attack, Miami made waves during the group stages, but taking on the newly-crowned Champions League winners PSG in Atlanta poses a “huge challenge,” according to the coach.
“We will aim to meet the standard and execute everything to the best of our ability, so why not dream of surprising them?” Mascherano stated during a press conference on Saturday.
“My message to the players is that this isn’t over yet; there’s still a match to be played. We understand we are up against a uniquely powerful opponent, one of the top teams in the world, but that’s the beauty of football.
“Tomorrow, let’s strive to play our best, a near-perfect game, and give ourselves a chance to compete and progress.“
Despite PSG being strong favourites, Mascherano asserted that his team should not be disregarded before the match kicks off at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“We’re not naive; we recognise that everyone sees us as the underdogs, and that’s clear,” Mascherano continued.
“However, that doesn’t mean we will simply roll over. We will fight, that’s the essence of the game. What makes tomorrow’s match special is that we’ve earned the right to participate.“
The coach expressed his happiness that the 38-year-old playmaker Messi is now with Miami rather than PSG.
“Everything associated with Leo generates immense interest; we Argentinians understand that following our World Cup triumph in 2022,” Mascherano remarked.
“The priority is that Leo is fit and playing for us. I believe this brings us a sense of calm. After all, it’s just a game of football.“
Reunion
Mascherano is also looking forward to reconnecting with PSG manager Luis Enrique, who previously coached him, as well as Miami teammates Messi, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suárez, and Jordi Alba, all of whom secured a treble together at Barcelona in 2015.
“Luis is one of the finest coaches I’ve had in my career, and we share a strong personal bond,” noted Mascherano.
“He was instrumental in convincing me to remain at Barcelona during that period… he’s a remarkable coach who has demonstrated his abilities with Barcelona, PSG, and the Spanish national team…
“It’s also valuable to challenge oneself against such a coach and team; it’s a test.“
Inter Miami notably secured an unexpected victory against Porto to qualify second in Group A behind Palmeiras.
Federico Redondo, the son of former Real Madrid midfielder Fernando Redondo, acknowledged that his team must focus on solid defence to have a shot at a favourable outcome against the French champions.
“The reality is that they are the best team in the world, and when you face a team of that calibre, they dominate you and force you to defend more,” said the 22-year-old Argentinian.
Redondo mentioned that his father had not given him any special advice regarding the clash with the Champions League winners PSG.
“He shared the same wisdom he always does: to enjoy it and to keep doing what we’ve been doing as we’ve had three fantastic games,” Redondo added.
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Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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