Inter Miami head coach Guillermo Hoyos said Lionel Messi is at peace after rejoining the club following the death of his father, Jorge.
Jorge Messi died on Aug. 8 at a hospital in the central Argentina city of Rosario. He was 68.
“He looks good, expressing himself on the pitch, a place he knows to perfection, and at peace,” Hoyos said of Lionel Messi on Tuesday.
Messi returned to club activity on Aug. 12, participating in the Leagues Cup match against León. The Inter Miami captain came on as substitute in the 46th minute to a standing ovation from supporters at Nu Stadium.
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“He sets a great example,” Casemiro said of Messi’s return following the game with León. “After all, he is surely going through a very difficult time, but the commitment he has shown, not just to the players but to the club, has been incredible. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.
“We have to say thank you, thank you for coming here, for helping us and for helping the club.”
Messi was named in the starting lineup for Miami’s 4-1 defeat to Nashville SC on Saturday night at Geodis Park.
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Inter Miami now have another quick turnaround with a road trip to face the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday night. And Hoyos criticized the lack of recovery time between matches, calling out the current schedule for overworking his players.
“I think players are often exploited,” Hoyos said. “They are pushed too hard because recovery times are frequently inadequate, whether due to travel, match schedules for the heat. Right now, for instance, humidity is at 87%.
“It’s almost madness how players give of themselves; their determination is truly praiseworthy, but this is an issue that needs addressing to improve the quality of the sport.”
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Inter Miami have played five competitive matches so far in August, between MLS regular season action and Leagues Cup, participating in their sixth game on Wednesday.
The team has been hit with several injuries, with Germán Berterame, Mateo Silvetti, Tadeo Allende and Micael still unavailable for selection.
Inter Miami currently sit in second place on the Eastern Conference table with 38 points in 19 game, five points behind Nashville.
