Atlanta boss reveals secret to stopping Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez after disappointing blow to Inter Miami

InterMiami was brought back down to earth after a 3-1 loss to Atlanta United. Lionel Messi and his men looked helpless against their opponents, with Atlanta doing an excellent job of limiting Messi and Luis SuarezThe involvement of throughout the game. With Miami still atop the Eastern Conference standings, the team is in danger of losing its top spot with Cincinnati holding a one-game advantage over the Herons.

Atlanta United head coach Gonzalo Pineda spoke about his team’s performance after the match. Pineda also highlighted how his team contained the threat of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, saying: “I think knowing that Messi and Suarez were going to be on top, I always wanted to have a three against two against them. The players did incredible things in those moments.

He then added: “There were different difficult moments in the game where we didn’t read them or they were using balls in the build-up, but then we were always a good base of three players in defense, so that was also part of the why, it’s because I wanted to be protected in the middle of the field in transition moments.

Atlanta’s tight marking played a crucial role in the contest and could be a way to stop Inter Miami in the future. Meanwhile, Tata Martino will have to start preparing his team for life without his star players, with Messi and Suarez set to miss some of the Copa America matches on the horizon.

Can Inter Miami qualify without Lionel Messi?

While the Herons have shown they can survive without their captain for a few games, doing so for an extended period of time has yet to be proven. The last time Inter Miami were without their captain for an extended period, their campaign was disastrous. Inter Miami suffered ten consecutive defeats last season after Messi suffered an injury that ruled him out of the final half of the campaign. La Pulga and Luis Suarez have been Miami’s top scorers this season and their absence could significantly harm the team’s offensive advantage.

Inter Miami fans will be hoping that Matias Rojas, Leonardo Campana and Robert Taylor can rise to the challenge. The three forwards could become Miami’s biggest stars in the coming weeks if they keep the team at the top of the standings. However, things won’t be easy, considering the series of games Miami will face. Do you think Inter Miami can stay at the top of the table in the absence of Lionel Messi? Sound off in the comments below.

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