Inter Miami midfielder Julian Gressel said that his star teammate Lionel Messi finds it “unacceptable to tie a game.”
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Messi finds tie game “unacceptable”
Speaking on the”‘Major League Journeymen” podcast, Gressel discussed how Messi demands Inter Miami to reach a higher standard.
The German player also mentioned that the Argentine international finds tied games ‘unacceptable.’
“It’s demanding [in the locker room with Messi]. You’re talking about the player with the most wins in the history of the game,” Gressel said.
“They’re coming in and they’re expecting the same, and you as a teammate, you kind of have to get accustomed to that and get used to that with Messi, [Luis] Suárez, [Sergio] Busquets and [Jordi] Alba.”
“It’s unacceptable to tie a game, as simple as that. We tied a game earlier in the year and I remember him being really really upset in the locker room, he’s like, ‘We shouldn’t tie, we can’t tie.'”
Then-manager Tata Martino even tried to calm Messi down, saying: “It’s OK to draw sometimes, we can’t just win everything, it’s not how this league works.”
“But for [Messi], his aura is that,” Gressel added.
How is Messi as a leader?
Inter Miami concluded the 2024 MLS campaign by winning the Supporters’ Shield and setting a league record for the most points in a single season.
However, the Herons were eliminated by Atlanta United FC in the first round of the playoffs.
Gressel noted that tension would often rise in the locker room after a negative result.
At times, veteran Luis Suarez would confront players about their individual performances.
In contrast, Messi takes a much calmer approach when addressing his teammates.
“When it comes to the game or when it comes to being serious, it’s being serious and it’s time,” Gressel said.
“If you’re not doing your part, you’re getting it, like, you’re hearing it. You notice they’re not content. [Messi has] addressed other guys directly, he’s more so quiet, but you have guys like Luis, who’s a little bit more emotional. He’s more outgoing in a sense, emotionally outgoing like that, so you hear more from him.”
“Messi will certainly come up to you and will talk to you more so rather than be in your face about things. So we definitely kind of see that demand.”
