"That for us is obviously the challenge" - Atlanta United star speaks up stopping Lionel Messi and Inter Miami from clinching MLS Cup
Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan has opened up about potentially stopping Lionel Messi and Inter Miami from winning the MLS Cup. The two sides are locked in a playoff battle in the post-season.
Miami won the first game of the tie, while Atlanta won the second game, both with 2-1 scorelines. They are now set to face off in a final game on Saturday, November 9, to determine who gets into the next round.
Unsurprisingly, Inter Miami are widely seen as strong favorites to win the playoff round and even the MLS Cup. This is mostly thanks to former Barcelona players Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets, who all opted to join the Herons, albeit at different points.
They have already led Miami to the Supporters' Shield this season, and could potentially add the MLS Cup to the club's growing cabinet of silverware. However, Brad Guzan is looking to put a dent in their plans. The former Premier League goalkeeper, now 40, is hoping that Atlanta United can pull off an upset. He said (via talkSPORT):
"The names and the personnel, that immediately stands out, right? From a name standpoint, it certainly feels Premier League-esque, in terms of the caliber of names.
"With that being said, that's all good and great, and those guys then have to fit into a system, and being somebody that has worked under Tata before, I know how he likes to work and operate, and so he sets them up for success with those guys."
Guzan continued:
"So then it adds a whole other element - it's no longer just a bunch of individuals, or three individuals, if you will. It's now a team and a unit that can hurt you many different ways. That for us is obviously the challenge of trying to not just stop one or two guys, but trying to stop Inter Miami as a whole.”
The 40-year-old goalkeeper has already conceded five goals in three MLS Cup playoff matches. He will hope to keep a clean sheet this time around if they are to get past the Herons.
Could Neymar Jr join Lionel Messi at Inter Miami?
Lionel Messi's move to Inter Miami saw a number of his former Barcelona teammates join him, and Neymar could reportedly be the next. Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets moved almost immediately after Messi in the summer of 2023, while Luis Suarez joined them in December 2023.
According to OneFootball, Neymar has been linked with a move to the MLS giants. He has struggled to stay fit in Saudi Arabia, where he currently plays for Al-Hilal, and the Middle Eastern club are reportedly planning to offload him this winter.
Inter Miami manager Tata Martino has already dismissed the rumors, saying the salary cap structure won't facilitate the move.