Messi’s incredible start at Inter Miami has revived their silverware dreams.
Lionel Messi’s highly anticipated move to Inter Miami is finally completed, sparking excitement and speculation about the team’s chances of winning a trophy in the 2023 season.
However, as of now, Inter Miami faces significant challenges, sitting at the bottom of MLS’ Eastern Conference. Reuniting Messi with former Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba is still a work in progress, leaving the team with a tough road ahead.
In this article, we’ll explore how Messi can lead Inter Miami to success and what they need to do to achieve it.
MLS Playoffs Qualification: An uphill battle
While the MLS playoffs qualification structure allows 62% of the league’s teams to make the postseason, Inter Miami’s current standing makes it far from certain they will qualify. The team’s poor performance with only 18 points from 22 matches puts them at a disadvantage. Historically, no team with 22 points or fewer through 22 matches has made the playoffs, making the odds against Miami. To have a realistic hope of qualifying, Miami needs to win at least eight or nine of their final twelve matches.
MLS Cup: The ultimate prize
Assuming Miami secures a playoff spot, they will likely enter the play-in round of the reformatted MLS Cup Playoffs as the eighth or ninth seed in the Eastern Conference. To reach the final, they will need to face tough opponents, including the top seed in the conference, which is expected to be Cincinnati. While Messi’s brilliance can’t be underestimated, the team’s poor form in the early season makes it a challenging journey to the title game.
Leagues Cup: Messi’s one-man show?
Inter Miami’s participation in the Leagues Cup, a competition featuring teams from MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX, presents another chance at silverware. However, Miami finds itself in a group with regional rivals Atlanta United and Cruz Azul. Advancing from the group stage will require significant effort, and the knockout format could work in Miami’s favor, as it favors moments of brilliance over consistent form. Still, winning this competition remains a formidable task.
U.S. Open Cup: Quickest road to silverware
The U.S. Open Cup offers Miami the swiftest path to winning a trophy in 2023. With Miami already in the quarterfinals, they face a formidable opponent in FC Cincinnati. If Miami can overcome them, the path to the final becomes relatively less challenging, with Real Salt Lake or the Houston Dynamo as potential opponents. Winning this competition would provide Miami with a chance to participate in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, an opportunity coveted by the club.
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