Lionel Messi has insisted that Inter Miami are one of the favourites to win the MLS Cup ahead of their first round clash with Atlanta United set for Friday night.
Inter Miami have been in great form ever since Lionel Messi joined some months ago. The Argentine led the Herons to a Supporter’s Shield win this campaign on the back of a 20 goal, 16 assist season that has posed him as a serious candidate for his first MVP award stateside.
The Argentina national team captain has now revealed that he believes Inter Miami are among the top contenders for MLS Cup – and have a good chance of securing a first championship in club history.
In an excerpt from an interview, Messi outlined Miami’s playoff hopes: “Well, I think we are one of the favourites. I think we are a team that has grown and learned to compete and that will compete with anyone. But I think there are also tough teams who will be very difficult rivals and who will not make it easy. But I think the other teams respect us like we respect them.”
Inter Miami are currently the strongest side in MLS. Miami won the Eastern Conference and fought off a late charge from Columbus Crew to end the campaign with the most points in league history.
However, Miami will face a tricky path to MLS Cup.
They struggled to a chaotic 2-2 draw against first round opponents Atlanta United last month, and if results go as expected, they will face the Crew in the Eastern Conference finals – a matchup between the two sides widely considered the best in the league.
This will be Messi’s first taste of MLS playoffs as Inter Miami didn’t qualify for last year’s postseason following a poor start to the season.
