Inter Miami vs PSG, Fifa Club World Cup: Lionel Messi and Co. Prepare for Luis Enrique Test

Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and their Inter Miami teammates took up the field on Thursday in their practice facility for a new training session.

There was not much different about what they did. Dripping exercises. Some laughs. Interactions with coaches.

But this training was more important than most.

In a few days, Inter Miami will play one of the biggest matches of five-year club history when the herons take on the French Juggernaut Paris Saint-Germain in the club World Cup round of 16.

The storylines will be enough.

Inter Miami will be a heavy underdog against Paris Saint-Germain, winners of the Champions League final last month in a 5-0 thrashing by Inter Milan. It will be unknown territory for Messi, who has rarely introduced a competition in his decorated career as something other than the favorite.

It will be the first time that Messi has been opposite his former club since his exit from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023 after two seasons.

He will also be confronted with his former Barcelona coach Luis Enrique, now the PSG coach, who has had a major influence on Messi and various Inter Miami stars.

Messi was coached by Enrique for three of his 17 seasons with Barcelona. The Spanish coach led Barcelona from 2014 to 2017. He won nine titles, including two La Liga trophies, three from Copa del Rey and One Champions League.

Messi, Suarez and Brazilian Ster Neymar played together under Enrique for three memorable seasons and formed the famous «MSN» trio that combined for 364 goals and 173 assists.

«He has been very important for my career,» Suarez said about Enrique, «what I learned from him and was just around him. I had a competitive DNA before I played for him, but he upgraded it even more.»

Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets from Miami also played for Enrique, and coach Javier Mascherano regards him as a good friend.

«I have said this often, but Luis Enrique is the best coach in the world,» said Alba Na Miami’s draw with Palmeiras on Monday, «not only as a football coach, but also in the way he manages the whole group, that is spectacular.

Mascherano, 41, also played alongside Messi, Suarez & Co. When Barcelona won the Treble under Enrique in 2015.

«I have a special relationship with him,» said Mascherano. «I have a special relationship with his family. It will clearly be very special to him. It will be an honor for me with a great coach. One of the biggest coaches I had in my career.»

The knockout phases of the Club World Cup start on Saturday and the Showdown of Inter Miami with PSG is on Sunday in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Despite the fact that the tournament has entered somewhat a slump, Miami became the only Major League football team that continued to the club World Cup round of 16 after Palmeiras to play a 2-2 draw earlier this week, ending in second place to the Brazilian club in group A.

That was after the herons won a 2-1 victory over two-time European champion Porto on a characteristic free kick by Messi, who, together with his old teammates, has driven the conviction of Miami that it can make an explanation on the world stage.

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Suarez noticed how important it was to the knockout phase for the club’s route, but the herons know the opportunities for Sunday’s matchup. They know they will be the underdogs.

They insist that they are ready for the challenge.

«Now that we have the best team in Europe – the Champions League champion – we will try to keep the same effort and unity and play a great game,» said Mascherano. «If there is something that this sport has proven, it is that something can happen in every game. And whoever says that Sunday (not) will be our day. Sometimes things happen.»