Alexis Lalas has questioned Inter Miami’s decision to rest Lionel Messi for Sunday’s MLS game against CF Montreal.
The Argentine international was given the night off with Messi being rested for Wednesday’s CONCACAF Champions Cup clash against Nashville, a fixture that is being viewed as a priority for Inter Miami.
With Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez also seeing limited action this weekend for Inter Miami, it was clear that Tata Martino chose Sunday’s clash against Montreal as a fixture to rest key players.
Alexi Lalas aims dig at Inter Miami after Lionel Messi decision vs Montreal
Yet speaking on the State of the Union podcast, Lalas was somewhat critical of Inter Miami’s decision to rest Messi against Montreal, with the pundit hinting that the decision undermined the importance of MLS fixtures.
Lalas said: “He is going to be used sporadically. This gets into a bigger conversation about what should be the priority when it comes to any MLS player, but in particular here with what Inter Miami is looking at. He played in the Champions Cup midweek game, he did not play at the weekend in an actual MLS game.
“I guess this a subjective view, Messi was hired to play in MLS and to play in MLS games. He’s not playing in this game. He’s also not playing at home, in front of fans that have come out, whether it is celebrities or anybody else, to actually see this team, maybe for the only time, specifically because of Messi playing on the field.
“And he doesn’t play. That’s not a judgment, Tata Martino and that organization have to do what they feel is best for the long-term success and survival of this team. Obviously, it didn’t work from a result standpoint and maybe no league in the world is more forgiving of losing a game like this than MLS, without relegation and with the amount of teams that ultimately make the playoffs, so that’s the bar that they have to reach.”
Herons were right to rest key players on Sunday
A strong early start to an MLS season can be the bedrock to qualifying for the playoffs at the earliest possible stage, with Inter Miami doing just that.
Yet before the league even started, it was clear that the Champions Cup was going to be a priority for Inter Miami, with qualification for next year’s FIFA Club World Cup something that will appeal greatly to the Herons.
And resting players on Sunday could prove to be the right decision for Inter Miami, who will now have Messi, Suarez and Busquets all fit and ready to go for tomorrow night’s clash against Nashville.