Inter Miami have been the best team in MLS throughout the year, an achievement made even more impressive given how many games Lionel Messi has missed.
The Argentine international has played just 12 games this season with Messi missing well over half of the campaign due to injuries and international commitments, with the forward last playing for Inter Miami since the start of June.
However, Tata Martino has confirmed that Messi will return for Inter Miami later this month against the Philadelphia Union, with the forward set to build up his fitness ahead of the MLS play-offs later this year.
And Julian Gressel has now shared what Messi’s return for Inter Miami means for their MLS rivals.
MLS rivals could be ‘scared’ to face Inter Miami with Messi back
Speaking to MLS Wrap-Up, the USA international revealed that MLS teams could be worried about facing Inter Miami with Messi now back fit, given how good the Herons have been this year without the Argentine.
Though to the play-offs and blitzing the Supporters’ Shield race, there’s good reason why Gressel believes Inter Miami can become the most feared club in MLS once Messi is back, with the forward likely to be back to full fitness for the post-season.
Gressel said when asked about Messi’s return to action with Inter Miami at long last: “It’s Lionel Messi, I don’t think I really need to say much on what contribution he brings here.
“We’ve been very good without him, now you add a player like him into this team, and I’m sure other teams are looking at that and are a little bit scared of us. He has a couple of weeks to get back to game fitness, and hopefully he can join us on the field for the next game.”
MLS teams have every right to fear now Inter Miami
Inter Miami transformed over the summer into a team that relied heavily on Messi into one that is now the best in the division without their captain or star player.
And with Messi coming back, MLS teams have every right to fear what’s to come from Inter Miami, who could be unstoppable in the coming weeks if the Argentine returns to match fitness ahead of schedule.
With Luis Suarez in record-breaking form and the likes of Gressel also looking exceptional, Inter Miami could walk their way to MLS Cup glory with no real challenge, with a domestic double likely in the coming weeks.