After Inter Miami defeated Atlas 2-1 in the first round of the Leagues Cup, with Messi contributing two assists and setting up defender Vegard for a last-gasp winner, the Argentina captain spoke about the team's form, his own situation, and De Paul's arrival.
"I've known De Paul for a long time, and we've played many games together. His arrival has helped the team step up a gear. Even though we haven't trained together for long, he ran throughout the game. Considering the humidity, heat, and high temperatures here, what it means to run non-stop is self-evident. The important thing is that the team performed very well, and we got three crucial points," Messi commented.
He then talked about his personal performance: “Having a few days off without playing seemed better for me at first, but it was actually worse because I need to play. I found my rhythm as the game went on. It was a bit tough at first, especially in the first half, but well, the important thing is that we won.”
Finally, Messi stated that Inter Miami always plays to compete. "We're also fighting for a top spot in the league. We performed well in the Club World Cup in the past. We have a strong team, and now we've got a very important reinforcement like De Paul. The Leagues Cup is a competition we like; it's compact and gives us the chance to compete for the title and qualify for next year's Concacaf Champions League. We'll keep fighting as we always have," Messi concluded.
