MIAMI (AFP) — Inter Miami is expecting too much work from its Argentine star Lionel Messi, coach Gerardo Martino said on Friday, ahead of the team’s Florida derby clash with Orlando City.
Miami is unbeaten in its opening two games, with a home win over Real Salt Lake followed by a draw at the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday.
But with a busy run of fixtures for club and country coming up for Messi this month, Martino says the team needs to find a way to reduce the eight-times Ballon d’Or winner’s workload.
“I feel that in these last two matches, he has expended too much energy, and that is also my responsibility to make sure the team operates in a way that we can use him in the best way,” Martino told reporters.
Messi has been playing in a relatively free role, behind former Barcelona team-mate Luis Suarez, often floating deep to find the ball and then seeking to drive his team up the field.
