The season may not have ended how many players, coaches and fans alike would have wanted at Inter Miami this season, especially after such an impressive regular season.
The Herons were nothing short of perfect on their run to the end-of-season playoffs finishing top of the MLS Eastern Conference by eight points.
David Beckham’s side finished on 74 points breaking the regular season record. However, Atlanta defeated Inter Miami, ending any chance of a happy ending for the club.
Since their season ended Inter Miami have appointed a new coach in Javier Mascherano following the departure of Tito Martino.
Mascherano will lead Inter Miami into the Club World Cup. His side are in the draw for the first time which takes place on Thursday, December 5th.
Mascherano is a former teammate of ex-Barcelona stars Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, all of which he will be coaching next season.
Mascherano plays down Inter Miami’s MLS title chances
During his first press conference as Inter Miami coach, the Argentine was instantly questioned on several key topics including Lionel Messi, his style of play and most importantly whether he can win trophies.
The manager would have been hoping for some more light-hearted questions, perhaps on the possibility of Inter Miami signing Manuel Lanzini.
However, the tough questions could not be avoided and the former Barcelona and Liverpool star was quite coy about his team’s chances of winning the MLS next season.
Speaking during an Inter Miami press conference he said: “I would be a hypocrite if I came here and promised championships.
“We are in conditions to compete head to head and compete for championships.”
This isn’t exactly music to the ears of fans who would have been eager for the new manager to bullishly state that the team would be chasing after the MLS Championship.
However, it may not be all that surprising that Mascherano is playing down his team’s chances due to his limited coaching experience.
Mascherano’s coaching career limited to Argentina
The appointment of Mascherano was met with confusion by many with the former combative defender having very little coaching experience.
Mascherano was named manager of the Argentina under-20 team back in December 2021 and since then has gone on to manage his national side at the Olympics.
Outside of experience in the Argentina set-up, the 40-year-old has no other managerial posts to talk of. He is yet to coach a club side and the demands are very different to that of an international coach.
Former Manchester United defender, turned pundit Gary Neville recently spoke about how he believed Mascherano would be a ‘great fit’ for Inter Miami.
Speaking on It’s Called Soccer, Neville said: “Having worked with the youth teams at Argentina, the way MLS works is you have these fantastic stars and then a group of players who are a bit younger that aren’t as well-paid, it’s almost like having two separate changing rooms.
“So Mascherano having worked with youth teams could have that ability to flip what would be dealing with the senior players and then the rest of the dressing room, how does he connect with them, how does he get the best out of them and coaching them?
“Working with younger players, he’s got that dynamic of being able to work with these players, so he could be a great fit.”
Mascherano will be looking to use his relationship with Lionel Messi to benefit the Inter Miami first-team.