Coach Cincinnati: 'It's stupid to think with Messi'

* Cincinnati - Inter Miami: 6 a.m. on Thursday, August 24, on MetaSports.

"Not many players can play at the highest level in two decades like Messi," Noonan said on August 22 at a pre-match press conference. "It's silly to think we have an answer for coaching him. He's still playing at a very high level and just won the World Cup."

According to the American leader, his team will have to solve a difficult problem in the semi-finals of the U.S. Open Cup tomorrow. If he let players focus on Messi or Sergio Busquets, the rest of Inter Miami's players would be free and hurt FC Cincinnati. "Everybody is trying to find a solution to stop a really good team and nobody can do it," added Noonan.

Coach Cincinnati believes that Inter Miami, with Messi, has changed in the journey to win the League Cup, because before that, this team went through an 11-game winless streak, ranked last in the Eastern group of MLS. "The best player in the world, or one of the best in the world, changed the dynamics from professionalism to quality on the pitch and everything else in Miami," Noonan said. "He helps the players around him to play better. People like Robert Taylor suddenly play with a different confidence and you're seeing the best version of them."

In addition to Messi, Noonan also appreciated the fact that Inter Miami recruited Busquets, Jordi Alba and Tata Martino, the coach who won the MLS 2018 with Atlanta United.

Cincinnati currently leads the Eastern MLS league, with 51 points from 24 games. Meanwhile, Inter Miami is last with 18 points after 22 matches. In the round of 16 of the Leagues Cup, Cincinnati lost to Nashville SC 4-5 on penalties after drawing 1-1 in 90 minutes. It was Nashville who then reached the final and lost to Inter Miami.

If you win the U.S. semi-final. Open Cup on August 24, FC Cincinnati or Inter Miami will enter the final to meet the winner of the Houston Dynamo - Real Salt Lake pair. The final took place four days later.

Messi joined Inter Miami at the end of July. In less than a month, the 2022 World Cup winner scored 10 goals and provided one assist, helping the new team win all seven Leagues Cup matches. With the Leagues Cup, Inter Miami won its first title in five years, and Messi set a record for winning the 44th collective title.