Inter Miami Boss Tata Martino Defends Himself Amid Backlash for Unused Substitutes As Monterrey Knocks Out Lionel Messi’s Side

Inter Miami head coach Tata Martino might be walking on a thin rope. The Herons head coach’s tenure has come under scrutiny with the team failing to produce the desired results. Despite having some of the top names on his roster including captain Lionel Messi, Martino has failed to lead the charge from the front. The game against Monterrey could be the breaking point for his tenure at the club, with the team hammered 5-2 on aggregates!

Fans were not pleased with Tata Martino’s tactics during the game against Monterrey with Inter Miami outclassed on all fronts. To add more to his woes, the Heron’s head coach did not deploy a single substitute throughout the ninety minutes raising questions on his man management. However, it seems like the Miami head coach does not fret about his decision, with Martino defending his tactics during the press conference following the fixture.

Addressing the media, Martino stated, “All the guys we had to the bench were very young. The development of the game was not there to use them and put them in an adverse situation.”

Tata Martino’s explanation might not sit down well with the fans considering the team’s circumstances. Lionel Messi is coming fresh off an injury and thus the team needs to carefully manage his workload. Playing the Argentine the full 90 minutes in a lost cause does not make any sense and raises many questions about Martino’s leadership.

Lionel Messi reportedly wants former teammate to take Inter Miami job

With Tata Martino’s position at the Inter Miami hot seat numbered, people have been interested in knowing a little about his successor. Reports suggest that Inter Miami skipper Lionel Messi wants former Barcelona teammate Xavi Hernandez to take over the team when Martino leaves the post. Xavi is currently serving as Barcelona’s head coach but will step down from the role at the end of the season. The Inter Miami job could provide Xavi the time to freshen up before taking up bigger challenges.

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It will be interesting to see if Inter Miami opts for a transitional head coach. The team already has multiple senior players in the twilight of their careers. Appointing a manager for a short term would not help the team in the long run. However, Inter Miami’s sporting project has always revolved around flashy signings, and as such, securing Xavi even for a short stint would be a match made in heaven for the club!

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