Lionel Messi was the target of attacks from the opposing coach before the Champions League duel: A possessed midget with the face of the devil. Miami’s coach was also insulted, now an apology has been issued

Lionel Messi has finally recovered and Inter Miami can count on him for a crucial game this week. They must avert defeat to Monterrey in a Champions League quarter-final rematch. The coach of the Mexican team added fuel to the fire, insulting not only the Argentine idol but also his coach.

Inter Miami are enjoying a successful start to the new season. Before its start, it has strengthened its team even slightly and it seems that this year’s ambitions will be completely different from last year’s. They are one of the best teams in the MLS so far, holding the third position in the Eastern Conference.

However, Lionel Messi and his teammates also want to succeed on the international stage. To do so, the team from Florida has a tough task ahead of them. They have reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League, but in the first leg at home they lost 1-2 to Monterrey in Mexico without their Argentine star.

But the best footballer in history is already in the rematch. And the Mexican club should be worried. The captain of the reigning world champions scored a magnificent goal in his first game back from injury, and was also responsible for Miami’s second goal.

Besides, he has extra motivation. He was insulted by Monterrey’s assistant coach Nicolás Sánchez, a native of Argentina.

It’s not just Lionel Messi who is the target of insults

All the trouble started before the first game. Monterrey head coach Fernando Ortiz admitted his concern that Miami was getting special treatment from referees and officials because of the fact that Lionel Messi was playing for them.

“Everything surrounding Messi can lead to sporting and unsporting decisions. I am concerned. Football is a business,” The Guardian quoted him as saying. Did Ortiz put the referee under pressure? Who knows. Anyway, Inter received six yellow cards and one red card in a game that Monterrey won 2-1, some of the penalties were harsh and the players were not happy.

Messi, Jordi Alba, Luis Suárez and coach Tato Martino had an argument in front of the visitors’ dressing room. The reason, according to USA Today, was supposed to be a confrontation of the referee by the players.

To make matters worse, a statement by Ortiz’s assistant Nicolás Sánchez, who was supposed to see the whole confrontation with his own eyes and later spoke about it in his team’s dressing room, was leaked by Fox Sports MX.

“The midget was possessed, he had the face of the devil. He put his fist to my face and asked me who I thought I was. I didn’t look at him, I looked away and didn’t answer him. This only made everything worse,” Sánchez expressed.

He also took a swipe at the Miami coach: “What a pathetic little dummy. I had him in front of me, calling me a fool, a fool. He asked if I was going to cry. What Miami did is serious. They want to sully the field.”

So Lionel Messi has his motivation taken care of. It doesn’t pay to piss him off? Louis van Gaal can tell you about that. However, the Argentine has received an apology, and so has his coach. But will it do any good? We’ll find out on Thursday.

Source: The Guardian, CONCACAF, Transfermarkt