Inter Miami finished the second training session of the 2025 campaign on Monday with Lionel Messi present and under the direction of new head coach Javier Mascherano on Monday at Ft. Lauderdale, giving players a taste of what to expect under new management.
The players underwent medical examinations on January 11 before officially reporting for training on January 13.
“We started on Saturday with the tests and since yesterday we started training with the team. The feelings are very good,” he said. “We are happy that they are returning from vacation. We know that it is not easy to be on your feet for so long, beyond that, everyone can do their specific job. When we reintegrate and do the job as a group, they came back very well from the holidays and this allowed us to demand a little more from the first day, so we are very happy.
Mascherano and his coaching staff will work on getting the team into shape for the preseason tour across North, South and Central America.
“I’m very calm. Obviously I like to work with intensity in training,” Mascherano said. “I like my teams to play with intensity and courage, but we know what we start with now and we have to be calm to be happy with the guys. They work a lot and they work very well so we keep moving forward.”
Even though the team has only been together for a few days, Yannick Lumineux admits the team can already start to feel the impact of Mascherano’s leadership.
“He’s an experienced coach and obviously an experienced player, he knows what he’s doing, he’s played in the best lights and in the best games possible. He really knows football, I’m excited to start working and learn,” Bright said. “I’ve seen flashes of intensity here and there during training, but I love it. It’s who I am, I want to accept it and learn.”
Inter Miami will not be at full strength for the first preseason friendly against Club América on January 18 in Las Vegas, Nevada, as goalkeeper. Drake Callender and midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi join the United States Men’s National Team for January camp.
The USMNT currently trains at the Inter Miami facility in Ft. Lauderdale, offering fellow Argentines Messi, Mascherano and USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino the chance to meet.
