Martino of Miami: MLS denied request…..
Due to both teams’ multiple players being away on international service, MLS declined the New York Red Bulls’ request to postpone their meeting on Saturday, according to Inter Miami manager Gerardo “Tata” Martino’s statement on Friday.
Since MLS plays via FIFA international windows, as opposed to most other top leagues, an increasing number of teams are operating without some of their best players. Six players from both the Red Bulls and Miami will be absent due to national team call-ups for Saturday’s game in New Jersey.
“The federation didn’t approve, but we agreed to postpone this match after receiving a request from Red Bulls,” Martino told reporters on Friday.
“But I think it’s something that they are going to have to consider, because, for example, yesterday Venezuela’s two central midfielders both play in the MLS and that gives a huge advantage when you don’t have those players, so it’s likely that the league will have to keep on looking into this.”
“We decided to reschedule this game after getting a request from Red Bulls, even though the federation didn’t approve,” Martino told reporters on Friday.
“But I think it’s something that they are going to have to consider, because, for example, yesterday Venezuela’s two central midfielders both play in the MLS and that gives a huge advantage when you don’t have those players, so it’s likely that the league will have to keep on looking into this.”
“We were aware that some players, including Diego Gomez, Federico Redondo, and Drake Callender, who are with their national teams, would not be available to us this week. Even though we can’t rely on them, we can still assemble a strong team.”
Messi was replaced early in the second half of Miami’s Concacaf Champions Cup victory over Nashville on March 13. He did not play in the team’s league triumph against D.C. United on Saturday.
Martino indicated on Friday that Messi’s recuperation is proceeding as planned. He had previously stated that the objective was to have Messi ready for Miami’s Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal matches against Mexico’s Monterrey (April 3 and April 10).
Martino remarked of Messi, “Getting better, yeah.” “A few days prior, he returned to the field. Well, we’ll just have to wait and see, but he’s improving every day. We’ll have to wait until next week at the latest.”
About The Author
