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Lionel Messi-led Inter Miami secured a 3-1 victory over Nashville SC in their opening match of the 2025 Major League Soccer Cup Playoff campaign on October 24 at Chase Stadium.
Messi, who extended his contract with Inter Miami until 2028 just the day before, scored a brace in the Herons' win in Game 1 of the Round One Best-of-3 Series.
Last year, Inter Miami suffered defeat against Atlanta United in their 2024 MLS first-round playoff, and a major reason behind their loss was the Herons' defensive lapses.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner addressed Inter Miami's errors against Atlanta last year, stating that they were 'irregular' in their defense while also sharing his opinion on his side's odds of winning the MLS Cup.
What did Lionel Messi say about Inter Miami's chances in the MLS Cup?
Messi revealed what Inter Miami 'must be better in' to lift the MLS Cup and told Apple TV on Wednesday,
"There were moments where the team competed at a very high level, but it's also true that we were irregular, defensively, where we conceded a lot of goals, and that's something we still are lacking. We must be better in that area if we really want to win the MLS Cup," as per GOAL.
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"I think this season, like last year, we've grown a lot."
The Argentine icon then mentioned that the MLS 'playoffs are a completely different competition,' and added,
"I think the playoffs are a completely different competition, where the games are different. The teams are much more careful and attentive to every detail as with any given situation you can be knocked out. But obviously we're prepared to fight and try to win it, what we all want."
When asked if Inter Miami can win the MLS Cup, Messi confidently replied,
"Yes, obviously yes, we can. It's not going to be easy. We have the experience from last year when we finished first in the regular season and then got knocked out in the first round."
Inter Miami's second game of the first round of the MLS Cup playoff against Nashville is slated for Saturday, November 1, at Geodis Park.
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