Inter Miami were on the right end of a massive 5-1 MLS win against Columbus Crew on May 31, at Chase Stadium.
After breaking their winless streak back on May 28, and now with that impressive victory, Inter Miami are up to third in the MLS table with 29 points in 16 matches.
Despite the confidence of Lionel Messi & Co. getting back to winning ways, Inter Miami have a another challenge awaiting them, with the Club World Cup starting next week.
The Herons take on Egyptian side Al Ahly in their first match of the competition on June 14, at Hard Rock Stadium, Florida.
Speaking after their latest MLS win, head coach Javier Mascherano indicated the Club World Cup will be ‘much tougher.’
“This victory shows us that if we stay brave and composed, we can compete with any team, especially in MLS. But the Club World Cup is a different level,” as per quotes from Ahram Online.
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“The competition is much tougher, and I must be realistic – including Al Ahly. People may think they’re a weaker opponent, but I’m telling you, they’re not. Far from it. We’ll compete, stay true to ourselves and not fear mistakes. We have to keep pushing forward.”
What is Mascherano’s Club World Cup plan?
In his post-match press conference, Mascherano emphasized the importance of winning the first match in the Club World Cup, as ‘it sets the tone.’
“My objective is to win the next match. After that, we’ll focus on the second, and then the third. Trying to send a message here about what we’re going to do doesn’t serve any purpose,” as per World Soccer Talk.
“It’s a competition with a group stage, and the first game is the most important because it sets the tone for the other two.”
“But we have to be honest. The level we’re going to face is much higher than what we’ve encountered in CONCACAF and MLS. Whether we’re up to the challenge or not is something we’ll show starting on June 14.
“We’re facing a huge challenge, but we’ll give everything in the hope of advancing to the next round and leaving a good impression in the tournament. We’re one of three teams representing this league, so we’ll do our best to represent it well.”
Alongside Al-Ahly, Inter Miami face two other opponents in Group A, up against Palmeiras of Brazil and Portuguese giants Porto.
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