Inter Miami currently lead the MLS Supporters’ Shield standings and are the firm favourites for this summer’s Leagues Cup, but the Herons are far from invincible.
The Florida franchise’s last defeat in MLS came at the hands of FC Cincinnati in what was to be a record-breaking 6-1 loss for Inter Miami, with the Chase Stadium side also losing their second and final Leagues Cup group stage tie against Tigres.
With Inter Miami next facing MLS Cup holders the Columbus Crew in the Round of 16 of Leagues Cup, a good argument can be made that these two sides are currently the best America has to offer in soccer.
And manager Tata Martino has shared who he thinks is best between the two.
Martino names Columbus Crew the best in MLS over Inter Miami
Speaking to the press, Martino made the surprise call to name the Crew as the best team in MLS over the Herons, with the Inter Miami manager saying ahead of this week’s Leagues Cup clash: “Columbus is the best team in the league, by far, and we’d have to play at their home.”
With Inter Miami comfortably beating Columbus earlier this summer without Lionel Messi or Luis Suarez, Martino’s verdict on picking the Ohio-based franchise over the Chase Stadium side is a surprise, to say the least.
Indeed, this week’s Leagues Cup tie will be an epic one between the two given that Inter Miami will still be without Messi, with the Crew looking to make a statement with a big win against the Herons on their own turf.
And with Martino now naming the Crew as better than Inter Miami, there’s a real chance that the Florida giants could suffer only their third defeat in two months, with elimination from Leagues Cup a possibility.
Inter Miami need to show why they’re still the best around
The Columbus Crew are without a fantastic team, with Wilfried Nancy transforming the club into one of the best in North America and last year guiding the Ohio side to their third MLS Cup triumph.
Yet ahead of this week’s tie, Inter Miami have to show why they’re the best team in MLS and why clubs like the Columbus Crew should fear the Herons, who have looked incredible in recent weeks.
It will be a hard road game for Inter Miami, but form has been good and results have been promising, with the Herons also nearly at full-strength with Messi the only key player due to return from injury.