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

* Cincinnati - Inter Miami: 6pm on Thursday 24/8, on MetaSports.

"Not many players can play at the highest level in two decades like Messi," Noonan said at a pre-match press conference at TQL Stadium (Cincinnati, Ohio). "It's silly to think we have the answer to tutoring Messi. He's still playing at a very high level and has 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. 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 strong team and nobody can do it," added Noonan.

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, FC Cincinnati or Inter Miami will enter the final to meet the winner of the Houston Dynamo - Real Salt Lake pair.

Messi joined Inter Miami at the end of July. In less than a month, he scored 10 goals and assisted once, helping the new team win all seven games to win the Leagues Cup. It was the first title in the history of Inter Miami, which was established in 2018. Messi personally set a record with 44 collective titles.

Coach Cincinnati believes that Inter Miami, thanks to Messi, has changed in the journey to win the League Cup, because before this team went through 11 matches without winning in all competitions. "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.