Inter Miami Struggles to Find Form Despite High Expectations
Nearly six months ago, Inter Miami hoisted up its first MLS trophy, marking the end of a historic season.
Despite the loss of two legends of the game, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, Miami loaded up its roster in the offseason and prepared to defend its title. With the opening of its new home, Nu Stadium, management was poised to usher in a new era for the club.
However, Miami has failed to win at Nu Stadium across its three home games, leaving fans and management disappointed. And while Miami (5-4-2) is currently No. 3 in the Eastern Conference, it has failed to live up to the high expectations set for the season.
It kicked off the season with a shocking 3-0 loss to LAFC. A few weeks later, Miami was knocked out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup in the Round of 16 by Nashville SC. After logging two draws across both legs, Nashville advanced on away goals, taking away Miami’s chance at winning the only major title that has eluded them so far.
And on April 14, its entire coaching staff left the club after coach Javier Mascherano stepped down due to personal reasons. Mascherano joined Inter Miami in late 2024. In his first season, he led the team to its first MLS Cup title, which came after an Eastern Conference Championship. Under Mascherano, the team broke the MLS’ single-season goal-scoring record, with 101 goals across 58 games.
So it came as a surprise that he left the club early in the season, taking his entire staff with him, leaving fans to speculate about what went wrong. The club will likely conduct its search for its fifth permanent head coach during the World Cup break.
“I think what this club lacks, in general, is continuity and stability,” Miami Herald sportswriter Michelle Kaufman said. “I don’t think any club can really build when they’re changing coaches every year.”
Another factor that may explain the team’s performance is the immense pressure put on the team. Miami is led by one of the biggest names in the sport: Lionel Messi. He has become the face of Miami and the face of the MLS. Everything revolves around the star, which puts a lot of pressure on the rest of his teammates.
“When the whole focal point is one player, all the players are focused so much on him that they don’t play as freely as when they’re playing without him,” Kaufman said.
This may explain why forward Germán Berterame, who was formerly the star at Monterrey, has struggled to adjust to his new team. The loss of Busquets and Alba, who both played with Messi for several years and developed strong chemistry with him on the pitch, has placed a strain on the lineup.
“They lost two legends,” Kaufman said. “You can’t just replace that.”
The team has struggled to be consistent and cohesive. During several games this season, Miami failed to be aggressive from the start of the game. There is still a lot of time left in the season to improve, but it is vital that they learn to play together, Kaufman said.
Category: Feature Sports News, Inter Miami, MLS, Soccer
