"Well, clearly, Rodrigo and Leo didn't travel, and yes, it was a decision we made together with them. We felt we had too many trips planned, considering it was an artificial turf field, always complicated at Charlotte, we preferred they avoid the trip, rest, and not have to make another journey."
"Leo and Rodrigo are also in perfect condition, like everyone else except Maxi [Falcon]. Maxi [Falcon] is the only player who's out. We've been traveling a lot in the last month and a half, because there were these nine matches in a month and a half between preseason and the start of the season."
"These are decisions we have to make as a coaching staff. We've been playing a lot of games lately -- Wednesdays, Saturdays -- and we have a very important home game coming up, so Javier and the coaching staff thought it was the best decision. It was a collective decision."
Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano confirmed that Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul are in perfect physical condition ahead of the Concacaf Champions Cup round of 16 second leg against Nashville SC. The two players did not travel to Charlotte for the regular season MLS match on Saturday. Mascherano explained the decision was made collectively with the players, citing excessive travel demands and the artificial turf field at Charlotte as factors. With nine matches played in a month and a half, the coaching staff prioritized rest and recovery for the Champions Cup match. Maximiliano Falcón remains the only player sidelined due to a knee injury sustained in the first leg against Nashville.
Read at ESPN.com
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