Lionel Messi’s reported confrontation with Monterrey coach Fernando Ortiz following Inter Miami’s 2-1 loss to the Mexican side has been downplayed by Herons’ assistant Javi Morales.
According to TUDN and Fox Sports, Messi, Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba approached referee Walter Lopez following the CONCACAF Champions Cup defeat to protest several calls, and subsequently began arguing with Ortiz, who had suggested before the game that Miami would get favorable calls because of Messi.
ESPN also reported on Friday that Messi, who did not feature in the game due to injury, ‘angrily’ approached Monterrey’s locker room and began yelling, while adding the reason for the conflict was unclear.
Nonetheless, Morales insisted that ‘the most important thing happened on the field’ when asked about the incident.
‘… We know what those matches represent, they are played with intensity,’ Morales said during a press conference on Friday. ‘But truthfully, the most important part happened on the field.’
Lionel Messi watched the CONCACAF Champions Cup from the sidelines with an injury
Fernando Ortiz made the controversial comments about Miami before Wednesday’s game
He added, ‘We played against a great rival, and unfortunately when we went down to 10 men, we couldn’t maintain the result. Now we have to go to Monterrey and try to do it in the best way possible to advance.’
Prior to the game, Ortiz had said, ‘I hope the boys understand that it is just another game, they understand that [Messi] is just another player, because then comes all the other things, the referee, the framework, the people…everything that goes on around Messi can lead to decisions on and off the pitch that get made.’
However, Messi didn’t even participate in the match and Miami saw six players given yellow cards – and one sent off – in the first leg of the quarterfinal.
The Argentine hasn’t played since March 13 due to a hamstring injury, and watched the game from the Inter Miami sideline.
Morales told reporters on Friday that Messi is ‘getting better every day.’
‘He’s day by day, we’re going to see how he feels today, then we’ll make a decision for Saturday [vs. the Colorado Rapids.].
Miami is second in MLS’ Eastern Conference with 11 points through seven games.
