Inter Miami secured their spot in the post-season play-offs this weekend, with MLS Cup now on the horizon for the Herons.
The biggest title in American soccer, winning MLS Cup would be a huge achievement for Inter Miami this season having finished the regular season last year as one of the worst teams in the entire division even with the arrival of Lionel Messi.
Yet MLS is a league where teams can transform in a matter of months, and Inter Miami have done just that, going from one of the worst in the league to one of the best thank to a number of smart signings and the coaching of Tata Martino.
And star goalkeeper Drake Callender has shared what Inter Miami’s squad now think about winning MLS Cup.
Winning MLS Cup a ‘non-negotiable’ for Inter Miami this year
Speaking to the press after Saturday’s win against FC Cincinnati, Callender noted how winning MLS Cup is essential for Inter Miami this year, especially after falling short in both the CONCACAF Champions Cup and Leagues Cup.
Even with Messi out injured, Inter Miami have shown they are arguably the best team in MLS having reached the play-offs in one of the quickest times in league history.
And for Callender, going all the way in MLS Cup has to be what Inter Miami are striving for, with the Herons in need of winning silverware to reflect the investment the franchise have put into this squad this year.
Callender said when asked about Inter Miami’s MLS Cup aspirations: “We want to go for the big one, which is the MLS Cup. It was a non-negotiable to get there, now we clinched play-offs, and we have to put ourselves in position physically, mentally and emotionally to be prepared for play-offs.”
Losing MLS Cup would be a massive failure for the Herons
Inter Miami went into 2024 with a realistic goal of winning every trophy that was available this year, yet having lost two already, MLS Cup is really the last chance for the Herons to show their new project isn’t a failure.
With the Supporters’ Shield practically in the bag barring some huge slip-ups, all of the attention must now go onto winning MLS Cup, a title that is famously one of the hardest to win in all of soccer.
Yet Inter Miami have everything needed to go all the way in the play-offs, and having a fully fit squad with Messi available will be key for the Herons if they’re to win their first piece of major silverware.