In Miami, Lionel Messi demonstrated his impact on Inter Miami despite not finding the net, contributing to a solid start in the Club World Cup with a disappointing yet spirited goalless draw against Egypt's Al-Ahly. His presence alone attracted an impressive audience of around 61,000 fans at the Hard Rock Stadium, underscoring an energetic kickoff to the tournament and highlighting attendance as a crucial factor for its overall success.
Inter Miami's coach, Javier Mascherano, spoke about the nervousness and anxiety his team experienced in the first half, attributing this to the high stakes of the match. However, he noted that in the second half, they displayed more patience, creating various scoring opportunities, and could have potentially won the game if they had capitalized on those chances. Mascherano emphasized the importance of strategically positioning Messi and providing him with quality passes to enhance their offensive options.
On the other hand, Al-Ahly's coach, Jose Riveiro, acknowledged the intensity of the match, pointing out that both teams made mistakes, but his side managed to assert control in the first half, although they failed to convert their chances. He observed that Miami improved as the match progressed, particularly in the last stages of the game, making it a more competitive encounter. Riveiro also mentioned their initial strategy to limit Messi's support, though he noted that Messi still found opportunities to influence the game in critical moments, particularly during set pieces.
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