Javier Mascherano insists that his Inter Miami side can shock the European Champions Paris Saint-Germain in the club World Cup Last 16 on Sunday, despite the fact that they are levels among the French giants.
With the Argentinian Great Lionel Messi who led the leadership, Miami surprised in the group stage as they progressed, but opposite newly crowned Champions League winners PSG in Atlanta is a “huge challenge” in the eyes of the coach.
“We will try to meet the standard, we will try to do things in the best way we can, and why can't we dream to be able to shock them?” Mascherano told a press conference on Saturday.
“My message (to the players) is that this is not over yet, there is a game to play. We know that we are taking on an opponent of unique power, one of the best in the world, but this is football.
“Tomorrow, why don't try to play the best possible game, an almost perfect game for us, and have the chance to compete and some chance to continue.”
Although PSG is heavy favorites, Mascherano said that his side cannot be written off before a ball is kicked in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“We are not naive, we know that the feeling is in the game that we are the weaker team, that is clear,” Mascherano continued.
“That does not mean that they can kill us in advance. We will fight, that is what it is about. I think the great thing about the game tomorrow is that we have earned the right to play it.”
The coach said he was happy that the 38-year-old playmaker Messi now played for Miami, instead of PSG.
“Everything about Leo generates a lot of interest, we Argentines know that after the World Cup (win in 2022) and all that,” said Mascherano.
“The most important thing is that Leo is good and that Leo plays for us. I think that helps us to keep it calmer than anything. And then it's a game of football.”
Meeting
Mascherano also looked forward to meeting PSG Baas Luis Enrique, who coached him, as well as Miami players Messi, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba in Barcelona, all of whom won the Treble in 2015.
“Luis is one of the best coaches I had in my career, I have a good personal relationship with him,” said Mascherano.
“He was one of those who convinced me to stay back in Barca at the time … He is a great coach who shown it with Barcelona, now in Paris, and also in the Spanish national team …
“It is also good to test yourself for this type of coach, this type of team, it is a challenge.”
Inter Miami achieved a surprise victory against Portuguese side Porto on the way to qualify from the second of group A Achter Palmeiras.
Federico Redondo, son of former Madrid -midfielder Fernando Redondo, accepted that his team will have to defend well to have a chance to get a result against the French champions.
“The reality is that they are the best team in the world, and when you have a team of that level, they dominate you and oblige you to defend more,” said the 22-year-old Argentinian.
Redondo said that his father had not given him any special advice for the collision against Champions League winners PSG.
“(He said) what he always does, that I should enjoy it and that we continue to do what we have done, that we had three great games,” Redondo added.