New Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano expects to deliver despite lack of experience
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Newly appointed Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano poses for photos during a press conference, at Chase Stadium.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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MIAMI – Inter Miami’s Javier Mascherano is ready to silence the sceptics as he takes the reins with little coaching experience under his belt, he said on Dec 3, after rejoining his former Barcelona and Argentina teammate Lionel Messi at the Major League Soccer (MLS) side.
Team co-owner Jorge Mas seemed to confirm many fans’ suspicions when he said earlier this week that Messi had a part in influencing the hiring of Mascherano, according to media reports, after the two players spent years on the pitch for club and country.
The 40-year-old Mascherano, who coached Argentina’s youth teams after hanging up his boots four years ago, has never helmed a club but said he had every confidence he could deliver despite his thin coaching resume.
“Obviously, people in the world are going to have opinions and that’s a valid opinion, of course,” he said via an interpreter.
“But I am convinced I can do it. I have no doubt.”
Miami named Mascherano as coach days after Gerardo “Tata” Martino stepped down from the role, following the top-seeded team’s shocking first-round defeat in the MLS Cup play-offs at the hands of ninth-seeded Atlanta United in November.
Mascherano, who won two Champions Leagues, five La Liga titles, five Spanish Cups and two Club World Cups with Barca, has no experience in the top-flight North American league but insisted that proof of his abilities would be in the team’s results.
“I have been a coach for three years already and have trained the youth groups for Argentina and there’s always pressure, even though they’re youth,” he said.
“And I’ve also had 20 years of my career and everything that I’ve gone through,” added the former defensive midfielder, who also played for Liverpool, River Plate and Corinthians, among others.
As well as Messi, Mascherano will be coaching his former Barca teammates Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets.
The team face added pressure in 2025, after Fifa controversially awarded them a route to the Club World Cup on the back of them winning the Supporters’ Shield for finishing top of the MLS standings after the regular season.
“We know that we’re going to have to go against very powerful, very historic teams,” said Mascherano.
“But also this type of competition allows you to grow.”
The expanded Club World Cup will be hosted by the United States from June 15 to July 13. REUTERS
