(Miami) Miami has very little in common with Montreal, we agree. An iguana doesn’t really compare to a squirrel, after all, except perhaps for the damage these two species cause in their respective cities.
But where the two cities are similar is in their bilingualism. In Miami-Dade County, nearly 70% of the population considers Spanish their first language.
This means that for Inter Miami’s media activities, as is the case in Montreal with French, everything takes place in the language of Guillermo Del Toro. There is an interpreter, but he does not need to translate for the dozen local media representatives present on this sunny Saturday morning. We are at the club’s facility in Fort Lauderdale, a city actually located in the north of the aforementioned county.
No need to do the translation, we said, except perhaps to help this journalist from Montreal who can only get by sparsely in Spanish.
And when the first client of media availability is named Diego Gómez and the volume of his voice is barely higher than that of an ant, the exercise becomes even more complicated.
PHOTO JEAN-FRANÇOIS TEOTONIO, THE PRESS
Diego Gomez
Are you looking forward to seeing your former teammate Josef Martínez on the pitch again on Sunday, Diego? he is asked, as a plane passes overhead, on the horizon, further burying the few decibels emanating from his throat. The club’s training center is located right next to a business airport.
He smiles.
“He commented on my stories [instagram] recently, replies the midfielder. We talk occasionally. »
“We watched a few Montreal games,” he adds. They have good players, and they are on a good streak. We’re excited for Sunday. »
We have a little more luck with assistant coach Javier Morales, who is perfectly bilingual.
“It will be a difficult match,” assures the right arm of Gerardo “Tata” Martino, who recalls the two good results that the CFM has just obtained on the road.
PHOTO JEAN-FRANÇOIS TEOTONIO, THE PRESS
Assistant coach Javier Morales
They changed the coach, the style of play, they have played really well so far. We have to see how we adapt for Sunday, especially with [la situation] of our players.
Javier Morales, assistant coach of Inter Miami
Messi and Suárez… will they play?
PHOTO REBECCA BLACKWELL, ARCHIVES ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez
You’ve probably just noticed the elephant in the room, dear readers. We assure you, we looked and waited to see Lionel Messi appear on the pitch at the Florida Blue Center on Saturday morning. In vain. The media — not without some disapproving pouts — were escorted out of the training center after the first 15 minutes, standard practice in MLS as a match approaches.
To understand the reasons for the absence of Messi as well as Luis Suárez for the start of training, allow us to go back… to the start of the season.
Messi has played every minute for his club since February 21, 360 minutes over four matches, scoring 4 goals in 4 games. Suárez has 313 minutes in as many games, and 3 goals on the clock. Both players played the entire Champions Cup clash against Nashville on Thursday night, both scoring to help Miami secure a close 2-2 draw.
PHOTO JEAN-FRANÇOIS TEOTONIO, THE PRESS
Miami is keen on this competition. A title acquired in this tournament, and here is qualification for the Club World Cup in the bag. World Cup which will take place… in the United States, in 2025, during the last season of Lionel Messi’s contract.
The return match against Nashville? Next Wednesday.
It is in this context that CF Montreal will face Inter Miami on Sunday. From what we understand, even if he participated in training on Saturday after the cameras left, it will have been light, this day serving him mainly as a recovery period. These are the same reasons we saw Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba gently exchanging the ball and running around the pitch at the start of the session, with no apparent physical problems.
Knowing all this, will the South Florida stars play against CF Montreal? This decision will be made “after training” on Saturday, said Javier Morales, who spoke before it.
Luis and Leo, like all players who have played a lot of minutes, we have to manage them in the best way for the long term. The season has only just begun.
Javier Morales, assistant coach of Inter Miami
Would you allow us a little prediction, dear readers? Messi and Suarez may not be in the starting XI, but should play on Sunday. This is still a home game for Miami. If only for Inter season subscribers, Montrealers will probably need to combine with the two stars for 30 to 45 minutes.
Especially since Miami ensures that it does not take the CFM lightly. And that Montreal, for its part, is ready to “tear everything away,” said Laurent Courtois on Friday.
As the team with the highest profile in MLS today, “everyone comes here to try [de nous battre] “, concedes Morales.
“You have to adapt and manage this,” he said. We have to play every match to win it. »
With Messi and Suarez in their current form, this is generally what is likely to happen. And that, no need to study the book Think about learning to understand it.