Inter Miami CF manager Gerardo “Tata” Martino has come under fire for the decision to rest star players Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and Sergio Busquets for Saturday’s match against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Amid fan frustration, Martino defended the move, emphasizing the need to prioritize player well-being.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Martino explained, “We trained yesterday. When we finished, I conferred with the coaching staff and talked with the players, and at that moment we decided that they would not form part of the team. We understand the people’s frustration, especially in wanting to see these players, but it is our job as the coaching staff to make these decisions that are uncomfortable.”
Martino acknowledged the impact of these players on the league and the expectations of fans but stressed the necessity of such decisions. “We understand what these players provoke in the league and other markets, but we have to take these measures that are sometimes unpleasant for people. But they are beneficial for the players,” he said.
Vancouver Whitecaps’ response
The Whitecaps had pre-emptively informed fans about the potential absence of Miami’s star trio. In a statement on Thursday, Whitecaps CEO Axel Schuster said, “While we haven’t received an official update on the availability of Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and Sergio Busquets for this weekend, we understand they will not make this trip. Unfortunately, we have no control over who plays for our opponent, and it was important for us to communicate to our fans as soon as possible.”
The announcement came as the Whitecaps anticipated a record-breaking crowd of over 50,000 fans at BC Place. To mitigate fan disappointment, the club offered a 50% discount on in-stadium food and drinks.
Major League Soccer responded to the situation with a statement on Friday, acknowledging fan disappointment when marquee players are unavailable. “Each MLS club makes its own personnel and competitive decisions based on what they believe is in the best interests of the club and each player,” the statement read. “The league will continue to review measures regarding how clubs report player availability.”
Martino’s perspective on scheduling and responsibilities
Martino argued that the scheduling demands of MLS necessitated such decisions and placed some responsibility on Vancouver to manage fan expectations. “In this case, immediately after Vancouver we have two home games,” he said. “In evaluating that, we felt it was prudent that the three don’t participate in this game. They continued to train, and trained this morning and will do so again on Saturday to be prepared for Wednesday’s game.”
Martino highlighted Busquets’ heavy workload, noting, “In the case of Busquets, it’s worth mentioning that he is the player with the most minutes this season. We needed to find a point for him to stop, or for him to have a break. We thought it was prudent that it be this game.”
Inter Miami will return to South Florida following the match against Vancouver to host Atlanta United on Wednesday and St. Louis City on Saturday. This marks the second time this month that Miami will play three games in a seven-day period, underlining the need for careful management of player fitness.
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