Houston Dynamo manager Ben Olsen has expressed his belief that Lionel Messi will be in action for Inter Miami in the upcoming US Open Cup final.
Messi has been sidelined since his early substitution in the 37th minute of Miami’s match against Toronto FC due to ‘muscle fatigue.’ Consequently, he missed Miami’s subsequent game, a 1-1 draw against in-state rivals Orlando City, as well as an international fixture for Argentina. Miami manager Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino has been cautious about Messi’s prospects, stating that the team will make a decision about his availability ‘at the last moment.’ Martino also noted that Messi won’t be in the starting lineup if he does play, and his participation in practice has been closely monitored.
However, Olsen isn’t getting overly preoccupied with whether the World Cup winner will be present. He expressed confidence, saying, “We’re pretty sure he’ll play. We’ll prepare for them accordingly. They have some alternatives if that’s not the case. But we’ll prepare for their strongest lineup unless we receive more definitive information.”
Unlike some other sports leagues, Major League Soccer does not require teams to disclose injury reports, allowing coaches like Martino to withhold information that might aid their opponents’ preparations. Martino did mention that former La Liga star Jordi Alba is unlikely to play in the final, which is one less superstar for Houston to worry about.
Olsen acknowledged the difficulty of containing Messi, stating, “There have been countless coaches who have tried to stop him and consistently failed, so I don’t have a secret formula to contain Messi. No one has demonstrated that they do. But, of course, we’re all trying to achieve the same goal: limit his space and compress the areas. There are various tactics to try and restrict him. However, they have also assembled a strong supporting cast around him, so if you focus too much on him, there are other players who can harm you.”
This supporting cast includes players like forwards Leonardo Campana and Jose Martínez, as well as former Barcelona star Sergio Busquets.
Olsen and the Dynamo hope to apply lessons learned from facing other exceptional No. 10s in MLS, such as Nashville’s Hany Mukhtar, in their efforts to neutralize Messi and the rest of Miami’s threats. Olsen emphasized the importance of approaching the challenge with the right mentality, stating, “I hope we approach him in the same manner we do with all the other outstanding No. 10s we encounter. I’m not underestimating him. He is what he is—a remarkable player. However, relishing the opportunity to face this team with its talented individuals is, I believe, the right mindset to have.