The Rayados de Monterrey They are already on American soil where on Wednesday they will face off against Inter Miami in the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup, in a match that is marked by the unknown regarding the presence of Lionel Messi.
The technical director of Las Garzas, the Argentine Gerardo Martino, acknowledged last weekend that it was still not clear if the captain could be available for the match since he is still not fully recovered from a small injury to the hamstrings in his right leg. .
However, the Mexican team is cautious and recognizes that the presence of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner in the Inter Miami It is an issue that generates concern ahead of the match that both teams will play this Wednesday night at Chase Stadium.
“His presence is worth a lot. He doesn’t talk much, but being at any time during training or concentration, his presence is intimidating. We know that on the field we are eleven against eleven and that is where respect for everything ends.”said Esteban Andrada, Monterrey goalkeeper.
The Argentine goalkeeper, who has shared concentrations with Lionel Messi in the Argentine National Team, hopes that his compatriot can fully recover to have some minutes in the match against the Mexican team, one of the two leaders of the 2024 Clausura Tournament of the MX League .
“Always when he is there it is obviously a different attraction, both for the environment, the referees, etc. I hope he can play and if not, well, wish him a speedy recovery.”Esteban Andrada added in statements collected by the TUDN channel after his arrival in the city of Miami.
But beyond the presence or not of Lionel Messi with Inter Miami, with whom he has not played since the middle of last month in the second leg of the round of 16 of the Conchampions against Nashville, the Rayados goalkeeper revealed that they are motivated to achieve a good result.
“We have to be completely focused on this game. Obviously it is a super important game for us.”commented the goalkeeper who recalled that the series against the MLS team is long so they cannot just focus on what happens this Wednesday at Chase Stadium.
“There are 180 minutes and we can’t give ourselves away in a single match, so we have to be intelligent and good, try to keep the series open and if we can score a goal, much better”considered the experienced Argentine goalkeeper who will be between the three sticks this Wednesday against Inter Miami
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