Javier Mascherano says that there will be no excuses for the attacking shortages of Inter Miami when they then visit the San Jose -Patries in MLS promotion.
Miami was hammered 4-1 by Minnesota United in their last outing and descended to fourth place in the Eastern Conference after just their second league-defeat this season.
Lionel Messi reduced the overdue overdue to 2-1 after a double blow in the first half of Minnesota, but the hosts hit back with two more strikes after the interval to achieve a crushing victory.
Mascherano chose not to enter a striker against Minnesota after Luis Suarez had to miss the game for “personal reasons”.
The Miami boss refused to blame the lack of an out and out striker, but pointed to a general struggle for space.
“It is very difficult to find clarity if there is no room,” he said. “Of course that is not an excuse – we have to work on that.
“The opponent did well, and we were struggling. We had some opportunities, but every time we attacked, they hurt us badly in transition.”
The former defender of Argentina and Barcelona will be desperate on his side to find offensive answers, although it is also concerned with a lack of defensive protection.
“Unfortunately it is a tough defeat for us, because, despite everything, we knew that Minnesota could hurt us in this way, the way we had prepared ourselves, and that is what worries me the most,” he added.
“We have to win our duels. We want to be the protagonists and that means taking risks [defensively]But we lose the ball in the transition and the opponent gets counters from 50 to 60 meters.
“We have to improve that.”
San Jose is seventh in the Western Conference after a 2-0 win over the Colorado Rapids made the back-to-back MLS wins.
Former Miami striker Josef Martinez will be a familiar face for San Jose, who are coached by the former national team boss Bruce Arena of the United States.
Regardless of who knows Miami Face, Mascherano that his side is needed to get back on the right track.
“If the performance levels of the players fall, the responsibility is clearly on me, the coach,” said Mascherano.
“If the coach does not convince them or states what he asks them to do, the responsibility will fall on him.”
Intensity in motion pic.twitter.com/53GJMZHEYV
– Inter Miami CF (@intermiamicf) 13 May 2025
Players to watch
San Jose Earthquakes – Cristian Arango
This year Arango is the striking performer for San Jose, with his eight MLS goals that were the lead for the earthquakes.
Inter Miami – Lionel Messi
Messi has been involved in five goals in four career competitions for Club and Country in California (two goals, three assists), but he failed to contribute to a goal in his last visit to the Golden State, a loss for Los Angeles FC in the Concacaf Champions Cup in April.
Match forecast: Inter Miami Win
San Jose has won three consecutive games in all competitions for the first time in a year. The earthquakes last won four consecutive games in all matches in July 2019.
The earthquakes have not won a consecutive home games in more than two years in the league match, since a winning run of three games in April-May 2023.
The only earlier meetings between San Jose and Miami were a 1-0 road victory for Miami in August 2022 in August 2022 at a goal by Jean Mota in the 12th minute.
Opta wins probability
San Jose Earthquakes Win – 24.5%
Inter Miami Win – 52.6%
Drawing – 22.9