"FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano insists the club has evolved since losing to the Vancouver Whitecaps in April's Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals, entering Saturday's MLS Cup with a newfound confidence and improved roster. The Whitecaps first beat Inter Miami 2-0 at BC Place before triumphing 3-1 in the second leg of the semifinal series at Chase Stadium to eliminate Mascherano's team from the international competition."
""Obviously, they were much better than us in April, but the situation isn't the same now. We're in a different situation. Now we're heading into the final with confidence and with some different players," Mascherano said during his pregame news conference on Thursday. "We know they have a very, very good team. I don't like to talk about some players because they have many, many good players. But ultimately, we have our tools to play our game and try to be better than them.""
Inter Miami evolved after the April loss to Vancouver, entering MLS Cup with greater confidence and roster upgrades. The Whitecaps beat Miami 2-0 at BC Place and 3-1 at Chase Stadium in the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals, eliminating Miami. Since then Miami added Argentina international Rodrigo De Paul, finished third in the Eastern Conference and Supporters' Shield standings, and advanced through the playoffs decisively. Inter Miami beat Nashville SC in a best-of-three Round One, defeated FC Cincinnati 4-0 in the Eastern semifinal, and beat New York City FC 5-1 in the Eastern final. Coach Javier Mascherano altered the starting lineup, using Mateo Silvetti alongside Lionel Messi and Tadeo Allende to strengthen the attack.
Read at ESPN.com
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