Inter Miami -Coach Javier Mascherano has dropped media reports that claim a gap between him and the Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi.
Mascherano and Messi were involved in a heated debate during the 5-3 defeat against Chicago Fire last week at the Chase Stadium.
Miami was 2-0 in the game before Tomas Aviles put them back on track. They tied 3-3 in the second half when Luis Suarez scored a brace.
The visiting team, however, scored two more goals to win in the final phase of the game.
Miami’s coach and Lionel Messi were captured by the cameras with an intense exchange, which led speculation of a gap between the two.
Mascherano has trusted the rumors that were circulating, and said he discussed the tactics with Messi.
“There is no problem with Leo … It came out in the press that he challenged me, which is really nonsense,” said Mascherano.
“We were talking about the low block of Chicago. If you look at the game, they played a very low block after their first two goals and there was little room to find between the lines.
“It was a space problem, because they had fallen back very well and it was very difficult to find space between the lines. It was a problem that I saw and what we tried to talk about in the dressing room.”
Inter Miami won a 4-1 win over New England on Sunday and has already qualified for the Major League Soccer Playoffs.
Jordi Alba and Tadeo Allende each scored two goals; Messi did not score for the second consecutive match, but he contributed by helping with three of the four goals.
