Inter Miami star Leo Afonso has shared what it was like playing without Lionel Messi or Luis Suarez last night against the Philadelphia Union.
The Herons experienced their first match this summer without the attacking superstars with Messi and Suarez now both readying themselves for next week’s Copa America with Argentina and Uruguay respectively.
Given how reliant Inter Miami have been this year on Messi and Suarez’s form, there have been fears that the Herons could suffer with the pair away for a month, though last night’s dramatic win against Philadelphia proved otherwise.
And Afonso has now revealed what it was like playing without Messi and Suarez last night.
Afonso admits Messi and Suarez absence is ‘difficult’ for Inter Miami
Speaking to Apple TV after last night’s win, Afonso admitted that Inter Miami are finding it difficult without Messi and Suarez in the squad, though the Herons are doing all they can to make up for the missing quality.
Last night’s win was a major testament to what Inter Miami can do without their star players, with Afonso the hero with a last-minute winner after Julian Gressel leveled the scoring for the Florida franchise.
And moments like that will fill Inter Miami with confidence heading into upcoming games, with the Herons aware that this is only the start of a difficult stretch of games.
Afonso said on last night’s win without Messi and Suarez: “It’s difficult when you’re missing the best players in the history in their position, but we have to keep working and we have to try our best, and that’s what we did tonight.”
Inter Miami need to prove they can win without their star players
Inter Miami have shown on numerous occasions they can win comfortably without star players such as Messi and Suarez, yet the Herons need to go on a winning streak to show to rivals that they are still a feared club.
With the Herons the favorites for MLS Cup, the entire squad elevating their game with Messi and Suarez gone could be huge in the long-term, with Inter Miami’s team one of the biggest and best in the league.
And if Inter Miami can add to last night’s win, Tata Martino’s side will be sending a clear message to the rest of the league over their MLS Cup credentials, which are already outstanding.