Inter Miami head coach Cristian "Kily" González said Argentina will miss Lionel Messi terribly following the captain's international retirement, and he urged MLS fans to savor the time they have left with the star.
"[The farewell match] was incredibly intense," González said on Friday. "Obviously, I was very close to him, but ultimately, that moment belonged to him, it was his time. All that mattered was for him to enjoy it. I just told him to enjoy it, to soak up all the love, not just from Argentina, but from the whole world."
González said Messi will be missed in the national team jersey, but that now he's ours, and the club should enjoy having him. He added that Messi left a lasting legacy with Argentina through his competitive nature, which pushes teammates and staff to give 100% every day. "He's a born competitor," González said. "He's 39 years old, yet he's constantly seeking out new challenges."
Inter Miami now prepares to face D.C. United on Saturday night at Nu Stadium in its first match after the international break. González said the players returning from national teams are doing well, and the team knows it must get back to winning. Defensively, he said, the side needs to be much better against an opponent that is dangerous in transition.
Inter Miami sits third in the Eastern Conference with 46 points in 27 games, following a five-match winless streak in MLS. The club will host New York City FC on Oct. 14 at Nu Stadium.
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing