“You Have No Room for Complaints”- Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami Boss Fires Back at Mexican Clubs for Complaining About Leagues Cup

The Leagues Cup has garnered significant international attention since the American soccer debut of the legendary Lionel Messi. This competition, featuring teams from Major League Soccer (MLS) and Liga MX, has not only benefited from Messi’s presence, but has also found itself mired in controversies regarding refereeing decisions and complaints about its format.

While the Leagues Cup is intended to foster growth in both the MLS and Liga MX, it has sparked division in Mexico due to perceptions of favoritism toward MLS teams and prioritization of revenue generation.

Inter Miami boss defends Leagues Cup allegations

Responding to the criticism, Liga MX released a statement on social media. Expressing gratitude to fans and players while emphasizing a focus on VAR decisions in future matches, the league plans to address these issues with the Leagues Cup Organizing Committee and ultimately involve CONCACAF for analysis.

Addressing this issue in an interview, Inter Miami’s manager, Tata Martino, responded vehemently to these complaints. Martino exclaimed, “You like the way the calendar is, you agree to play all the matches in the United States, you understand that you have to travel more because you always play away, and when you accept this, you have no room for complaints. If each club wants to complain, it is to complain to the president of the FMF and not to the organizers of the tournament. The one who accepted the conditions is the president of the FMF.”

Inter Miami currently stands in the quarterfinals. Martino rejected the notion that Liga MX teams were justified in their protests. He added, “We are going to have a tournament, but we do it the way we want, and whoever wants to come and play should do it, and whoever does not, should not. In Concacaf, they made a tournament, called MLS to Liga MX. They sat down, they saw how the tournament was going to be, how much money they were going to earn, how the business was, because we forget that the business was liked by everyone and then come the protests.”

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Notably, all matches are hosted by MLS clubs, raising concerns about fairness. The top three performers in the Leagues Cup earn an automatic qualification for the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

The path forward: Inter Miami and Lionel Messi’s journey in the Leagues Cup

The Herons are now gearing up to face fellow MLS side, Charlotte FC, in the 2023 Leagues Cup quarterfinals. Just two games separate Miami and Messi from reaching the Leagues Cup final.

Throughout the competition, Inter Miami has been involved in thrilling encounters. Their journey includes a narrow victory against Cruz Azul with Messi’s stoppage-time free-kick. A game against Orlando City exposed their defensive vulnerabilities in a 3-1 win, and a dramatic comeback against FC Dallas, ending in a 4-4 draw and a 5-3 win on penalties.

As the Leagues Cup unfolds, one cannot help but wonder if Lionel Messi will continue to conjure his magical moments on the field. While complaints and criticisms have cast a shadow over the tournament, it remains a platform for fierce competition and a showcase of soccer prowess.

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