Lionel Messi is confident that Inter Miami will bounce back from their poor run of form after another defeat to Orlando City on Sunday at home.
The latest defeat has put manager Javier Mascherano under pressure with five defeats in their last seven matches, conceding 20 goals.
Their last victory was on May 3rd, and they have slipped to sixth on the Major League Soccer standing to put their hopes of making the playoffs in jeopardy.
However, Lionel Messi is backing the team to recover their match-winning form ahead of the FIFA World Club Cup in June.
He said: “It’s a difficult time, but we’re going to come through this. Now we’ll really see if we’re a team. These are difficult times. When everything is going well, it’s very easy, but when difficult times come — like now — we have to be more united than ever, be a real team, and get through it.
“We’re coming off a period of bad results. But we have to keep working and think about what’s next. With three or four games left in May, we [have to] finish the best possible way to be able to face the Club World Cup.”
The former Barcelona skipper questioned the officiating in their 3-0 loss to Orlando City.
Messi said: “We had a great first half, we were attacking, creating scoring chances. Then there was a strange play where one of their players gave the [Orlando] goalkeeper a pass and the referee said he didn’t know the rule and didn’t see it that way, from there came their long pass and the goal.
“[These are] not excuses, but there are always issues with referees and I think MLS has to look at some of the officiating.”
Similarly, Under-pressure manager, Javier Mascherano accepted responsibility for the poor form while urging the players to stay together to end the disappointing run.
He said: “When you are in this dynamic, if we each start pulling ourselves to the side it’ll be impossible to overcome the moment. It’s clear that we must overcome this all together because clearly this team has shown, especially at the beginning of the season, what they are capable of.
“Right now, I take full responsibility. I will not point out any players publicly, I am not that way. No one enters the pitch trying to have a bad time or to suffer. Every player tries to do their best with virtues and errors, and now we have to try to get the best out of these players to move forward.”
Messi will be hoping for an instant response when Inter Miami visits Philadelphia on Sunday in their 14th game of the season.
Messi has scored 10 goals, and recorded three assists in all competitions for Inter Miami this season.
