Inter Miami have been one of many surprises of the FIFA Membership World Cup 2025, coming inside minutes of topping Group A — one thing few anticipated on the match’s outset. Now, with one in all their hardest checks looming in opposition to Paris Saint-Germain, head coach Javier Mascherano has delivered a robust message to Lionel Messi and the squad.
PSG completed atop Group B with victories over Atlético Madrid and Seattle Sounders, struggling a stunning setback to Botafogo alongside the way in which. Regardless of that defeat, the reigning UEFA Champions League winners enter the knockout spherical as heavy favorites — however Mascherano isn’t shopping for into that narrative.
Talking at Saturday’s pre-match press convention, the Argentine coach made his stance clear: “It’s clear that we’re not naïve — we all know that going into the match, we’re thought of the weakest workforce. However don’t depend us out forward of time. We’re going to struggle — that’s what that is all about. The wonderful thing about tomorrow’s match is that we’ve earned the correct to play in it.
Mascherano emphasised that merely reaching the knockout stage isn’t sufficient: “We will’t come into tomorrow pondering that simply getting right here is sufficient and throw the match away — fairly the alternative. I don’t know what number of instances we’ll get an opportunity as a membership to face a workforce like PSG. Now we have that likelihood tomorrow, and we’ve got to benefit from it.
“Inside our means, we’ve got to get pleasure from it, and present that — with all our limitations and strengths — we are able to, possibly not match them equally, however no less than play an incredible sport and show our price,” concluded Mascherano.
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By means of the Membership World Cup group stage, Inter Miami didn’t dominate, however they held their very own in powerful matchups in opposition to Al Ahly, Porto, and Palmeiras. Now comes a serious problem in PSG. Nonetheless, with momentum on their aspect — and Messi going through his former workforce for the primary time — Mascherano isn’t able to concede something simply but.
Inter Miami’s tactical method vs. PSG
When it comes to physicality and technical high quality, PSG are clearly superior. They’re able to controlling possession or hanging rapidly on the counter — a versatility Inter Miami haven’t fairly matched through the match. That actuality means Mascherano’s squad should take a strategic method into Sunday’s showdown.
“Clearly, we’ve got to attempt to play the sport at our personal tempo. If we attempt to play at their tempo, we’ll virtually actually undergo way more. We’re going to need to be very compact defensively and keep away from letting them trigger harm. However when we’ve got the ball, it could possibly’t really feel prefer it’s burning our toes,” the coach highlighted, asking for persistence.
“They’re the sort of opponent that drags you into their sport — which implies pinning you again and making you play in your individual field. They’ve proven us they’re not an ideal workforce, and they are often harm. Now we have to discover a method to capitalize on the few probabilities they’re going to offer us,” he concluded.
