Inter Miami head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino has said Lionel Messi will be a game-time decision for Wednesday’s Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal first leg against Monterrey.
Messi has been sidelined for five matches now with a hamstring issue, missing three MLS games with Inter Miami and also sitting out both of Argentina’s friendlies over the international break.
The 36-year-old was back on the training pitch on Tuesday but at a pre-game press conference, Martino would not commit to the Argentine playing in the match at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
“Tomorrow we’ll figure it out,” the coach said. “Today he trained. We still have 24 hours.”
“Leo has had an injury and this has had to be managed with time. We have a really important game tomorrow but we have to remember it’s the beginning of April. What we shouldn’t do is put our players’ physical conditions at risk.
“We’ll determine what’s best for Leo like any other player, and from there we’ll make the correct decision.”
Martino added that defender Nicolás Freire would also be a game-time decision and another defender, Serhiy Kryvtsov, would miss the match.
Miami has one win, one loss and one draw in the three matches Messi has missed thus far, most recently drawing New York City FC 1-1 at Chase Stadium on Saturday.
The Herons are in the midst of a crowded set of fixtures, as they’ll host Colorado on Saturday in MLS play before traveling to Mexico for the second leg against Monterrey next Wednesday.
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