Mascherano Reflects on Inter Miami's Win: "We Played with Fire and Can Get Burned"

In a hard-fought first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup round of 16, Inter Miami edged out Cavalier with a 3-1 victory. However, manager Javier Mascherano was quick to point out that the result didn’t tell the full story. Despite the win, he expressed clear dissatisfaction with his team’s overall performance.

We Played with Fire and Can Get Burned

Opening the post-match press conference, Mascherano remarked,

“We played with fire, and if we play with fire, we can get burned.”

He explained that the challenges began in the first half, where the team struggled to create attacking opportunities and maintain possession. Fortunately, Cavalier missed several clear chances on the counter, which ultimately helped Miami secure the win.

Mascherano stressed that, in football, results are hard-earned on the pitch—

“The matches are played on the pitch; no one gives you anything in football.”

He also emphasized the need for his team to learn how to win even on off days:

“Not every game can be played well; we need to learn to play poorly and win. The players are human, not robots. The key is not to let the opponent grow into the game.”

Addressing concerns about Lionel Messi’s condition, Mascherano reassured that injury fears were unfounded. According to him, medical staff confirmed that Messi has no injuries or scars, though he is currently fatigued from playing three matches in six days.

“We simply want to provide him with rest to alleviate that fatigue. We need to step up and learn to play without him.”

When asked if he would advise Messi to skip the upcoming World Cup qualifiers with Argentina to secure his recovery, Mascherano was firm:

“I would never presume to suggest anything to any player, not just to Leo. I know what it means for him, for Argentines, and for South American players to represent the national team, and the best way to help him recover is by allowing him to play as he knows how to do it best.”

Mascherano’s comments serve as both a reflection on the match and a call for his team to improve their consistency, even when the scoreline is in their favor.