Inter Miami secured their first piece of silverware of the season in the Supporters’ Shield against the Columbus Crew, with Lionel Messi the star of the show.
Tata Martino hailed Messi as ‘the game changer’ for Inter Miami as the 37-year-old attacker scored a brace in a 3-2 win against the reigning MLS Cup holders, with the Crew failing to stop the Herons in lifting the Supporters’ Shield.
With the regular season points record still on the table, many MLS pundits and fans are keen to see if Inter Miami can get the job done with two games remaining against the New England Revolution and Toronto FC.
Yet Messi has shared that the points record is only secondary for him.
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Messi set on winning MLS Cup over setting regular season points record
Speaking to Apple TV after the 3-2 win against the Columbus Crew, Messi revealed that winning MLS Cup and going all the way in the play-offs is the main goal for him, even with the regular season points record achievable and more immediate.
Although setting a new points record would add to the mythos Inter Miami are currently building with this squad, Messi has a good point that MLS Cup and succeeding in the play-offs are more important for the squad.
Messi said when asked what he is now focused on after winning the Supporters’ Shield last night in Columbus: “The points record is secondary, the main thing is what is coming up with the play-offs.
“First, we have a best-of-three series, but then it’s elimination games and anything can happen. We have a big advantage now, being able to play at home. We are very strong at home, but still have to prove we can win.”
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Messi knows what is most important for Inter Miami this season
Messi is no stranger to breaking records and making history, yet with what’s at stake for Inter Miami, focusing on MLS Cup and the play-offs shows how mentality screwed on the Argentine is for the Herons.
Although the regular season points record is a neat piece of history for Inter Miami to aim for, MLS Cup and adding another title to the trophy cabinet is what matters most for the Florida franchise in the final months of the season.
And Messi is fully aware of what Inter Miami needs to win in order to flourish as a club and to succeed, with a triumph in the play-offs exactly what the Supporters’ Shield winners need to reach that next level in their journey.
