Inter Miami head coach Cristian “Kily” González said the club’s new star, Lionel Messi, will be missed by Argentina after the Argentine captain’s international retirement, but urged MLS fans to savor his time in the United States. “The farewell match was incredibly intense,” González told reporters on Friday. “I was very close to him, but ultimately that moment belonged to him. All that mattered was for him to enjoy it and soak up the love from the whole world.” He added that Messi’s legacy with the national team is indelible, but the club now has the chance to benefit from his presence.
González praised Messi’s competitive spirit and the way he pushes teammates to give 100 percent. “He’s a born competitor,” he said. “At 39 he still seeks new challenges and he drives us to improve every day.” The coach noted that Messi’s arrival has already changed the club’s culture, encouraging staff and players alike to elevate their performance. “He’s a living example of what it means to be a champion,” González said, adding that seeing Messi happy on the field made him very pleased.
The Herons are set to face D.C. United on Saturday night at the Nu Stadium, their first match after the international break. González said the squad is in a good place, with players returning from national duties performing well. “We’ve trained effectively and we know we need to get back to winning,” he said. “We have a few matches to settle in properly, reach the final stretch of the season in top form, and fine‑tune the details so we can be the best team possible.” Inter Miami currently sits third in the Eastern Conference with 46 points from 27 games, after a five‑match winless streak that included one loss and four draws. The club, however, secured a 2‑0 victory over Cruz Azul in the Campeones Cup on September 16.
Looking ahead, González outlined a clear plan for the upcoming fixtures. “Defensively we need to be much better,” he said. “We’re facing an opponent that relies heavily on transitions and is very dangerous in those situations, so we have to guard against that. At the same time, we can’t lose sight of the fact that we need to take the initiative and go out to win the match.” The next game after D.C. United will be a home clash with New York City FC on October 14 at Nu Stadium, where the Herons hope to build momentum and finish the season strong.