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Inter Miami fans were left disheartened last evening as Lionel Messi's side faced defeat against Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place. The first leg of the semi-final of the Concacaf Champions Cup ended in a 2-0 loss for the Herons.
This match was also significant for Inter Miami as it was their first time qualifying for the competition's semi-final in the club's history. Messi was on the pitch for the full 90 minutes of the match, which was attended by over 53,000 fans.
While Messi had two shots on target, with Inter Miami overall maintaining a ball possession of 69%, the Herons failed to open their scoring against Vancouver.
In his post-match press conference, Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano addressed the defeat and took accountability for it.
What did Javier Mascherano say about Inter Miami's loss against Vancouver Whitecaps?
While speaking to reporters after the match, Mascherano mentioned (comments via The Athletic) that he and his squad need to 'analyze' themselves but he does not prefer doing that in front of the press. The Argentine coach also stated that he still has faith in his team to turn things around.
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"I think we have to analyze ourselves as a team and try to learn from this match and find a way to come back on Wednesday. I don't like to analyze too much in front of the press. Today we lost and the first person who is responsible is me," he said.
"I still believe in this team and we are going to find a way to play a good game in Miami. We have nothing to lose. We know we have to score at least two goals and not concede. Maybe the pressure will be on Vancouver," added Mascherano.
Earlier this month, Inter Miami pulled a comeback win in their Concacaf Champions Cup quarter-final against LAFC. After being down 1-0 in the first leg, the Herons netted goals in the second, winning 3-1 on aggregate to qualify for the semis.
Speaking about the upcoming second leg on April 30, Mascherano said that Inter Miami would need to make a plan to stand against Vancouver.
"Sometimes you can prepare everything but then you have to do it on the pitch. We have to think about how we can hurt them (on Wednesday)," he said.
It remains to be seen if Messi & Co. will be able to bounce back as they did in the quarters and create history for Inter Miami by sealing a spot in the Concacaf Champions Cup final.
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