Inter Miami’s MLS Cup defense hit an abrupt hurdle recently when second-year head coach and former Argentine star Javier Mascherano suddenly resigned for “personal reasons.”
In his place stepped sporting director, and Heron's star Lionel Messi’s “footballing godfather,” Guillermo Hoyos, on an interim basis. The 62-year-old subsequently guided Miami to a 3-2 win against the Colorado Rapids in front of 75,824 fans at Empower Field at Mile High.
But while the next chapter in Miami’s history has already gotten underway, questions remain surrounding Mascherano’s sudden exit, with defender Maxi Falcón quizzed on Tuesday regarding potential tension within the locker room prior to his departure.
Xavi Simons makes Tottenham fanbase admission following brutal Brighton draw
Tyler Adams addresses worrying USMNT statistic as FIFA World Cup nears
“As for ‘tension - if you want to call it that - look, I honestly never noticed anything of the sort,” he said. “But, as I said, sometimes people experience things differently. In that regard - as you mentioned - the goal is simply to try and help out your teammates.”
Falcón went on to add, “I truly believe that we put in a strong performance with Javier. As I mentioned, we competed in every single competition and tournament last year, and I think we did a great job of upholding the reputation of Inter Miami - especially considering it’s such a young club.
“And this year, I believe we are on that very same path. We want to do the same thing; we want to keep winning and competing hard in every match we play. And well, as I say, that is why we train every day: to correct the mistakes we’ve made in various matches and to strive to perform to the very best of our ability.”
Now under the guidance of Hoyos, whose managerial experience largely saw him work in Greece, Bolivia, and Argentina, as well as within the Barcelona academy, where he met Messi, Falcón explained that while their time together has been short, their new boss has highlighted the importance of “intensity.”
“I think the thing he has emphasized most is intensity, specifically when moving the ball, as well as individual duels,” he said. “That’s exactly what I was just telling your colleague: he wants to put a bit more focus on the idea that if we make ourselves strong in those areas, we’ll subsequently create scoring chances.
“As I said, it’s only been a few days of work, but I believe ‘intensity’ is the keyword regarding what he, both as a head coach and together with his staff, has conveyed to us.”
Falcón went on to add, “We know that winning is hard, and winning again is even harder. We are a team where, as I always say, regardless of the specific players we have, and the fact that every opponent wants to beat us, we are also the defending champions.
“And I think that fact becomes evident every time a rival faces us.”
He explained that Hoyos has presented his side with a ‘simple message,’ stating that, “If we stick together and execute the things he asks of us, things that we, as a squad, also feel comfortable doing, I believe we will find the best way to push through this and succeed.
“Winning is important, of course, but it’s also crucial to maintain that defensive solidity we possessed last year, something I feel is currently lacking in our game.”
Miami’s 14 goals conceded through the first eight games of the season are the second most amongst teams in the top 10 in the Eastern Conference, tied with Toronto FC and behind the New York Red Bulls on 19.
Falcón and the rest of the Miami defense are in for a test on Wednesday when they travel to Real Salt Lake, with the hosts having scored seven goals in the last two games alone, with Pablo Mastroeni’s side fifth in the Western Conference.