May 13 – With just four weeks until the FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) kicks off, the tournament’s opener featuring Inter Miami and their star Lionel Messi have hit a concerning run of form, prompting first-year coach Javier Mascherano to acknowledge that “there are things that need to be corrected.”
Mascherano now faces the delicate challenge of balancing playing time and prioritising competitions, while keeping the team competitive.
“I’m not going to be a hypocrite here and say everything’s fine because obviously we don’t like losing,” Mascherano admitted. “I think many of the goals we’ve conceded, which are 14 in the last five games, have to do with inattention and individual errors, rather than a collective approach to defending.”
The timing couldn’t be worse for FIFA and President Gianni Infantino, who are banking on the CWC’s success on American soil. It’s crucial for the tournament’s prestige that Inter Miami – whose qualification for FIFA’s marquee club event raised some eyebrows – delivers a competitive showing.
“I think there’s nothing better than spending these four or five days together right now, to be together, to talk, to do team building, to share moments that aren’t common during the season, but which are important at certain times,” said Mascherano.
While the rest period will benefit Messi and his fellow Barcelona veterans Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets – all over 30 – questions about their physical conditioning continue to simmer beneath the surface.
The accumulated mileage on these former Barcelona stars may finally be taking its toll, as time waits for no one. Their footballing intelligence remains unquestionable, but physical limitations are inevitable, and no amount of running from Miami’s younger players can compensate for four aging stars.
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