"Messi and Busquets will not afford not to compete": Tata Martino

The Argentine coach Gerardo Martino assured this Thursday, in his presentation press conference as the new coach of Inter Miami, that he spoke with the Argentine Lionel Messi and the Spanish Sergio Busquets and that they all agree on the challenge of "come to Miami to be successful", and stressed that in their mentality there is no "luxury of not competing".

Martino affirmed in the DVR PNK Stadium of Fort Lauderdale.

Yesterday I spoke with Sergio, and also when we spoke with Leo, we talked about coming to be successful, to compete, to compete well. That happens to us even on a personal level. Sometimes Miami is associated with vacations, we want to compete.

"They come from world champions, champions in the Spanish league, they are not footballers who are going to come here not to compete, they are not going to give themselves that luxury because they carry it in their blood," he added.

Tata Martino already trained Messi at Barcelona in the 2013-2014 academic year and in the Argentine National Team (2014-2016). He also coincided with Busquets in his stage at Barcelona.

The Argentine strategist stressed that the negotiations to lead Inter Miami began before the club closed the signings of Messi and Busquets, additions that the coach defined as "gifts."

I started the talks before Messi and Busquets and then Leo and Sergio started happening later. This opportunity has always seemed attractive to me.

With Messi in the center, a brain like Busquets and the experience of Tata Martino on the bench, the club intends to take its football to another level and leave behind an unforgettable start to the season, which sees it bottom in the East of the MLS , with seven consecutive losses.

People always claim immediate results. The circumstances are what they are. Today we have a problem, I told the players that now we are part of the problem and hopefully soon we will be part of the solution. We probably need a while.

We will still have to wait for Martino, Messi and Busquets to make their debut, as the club is finalizing the process to get their work visas.

With Messi and Busquets at Barcelona, ​​Martino won a Spain Supercup. The Argentine lost the Copa del Rey Final against Real Madrid in Mestalla, when the Welshman Gareth Bale signed one of the best goals of his Madrid period, and finished second in the League, won by Atlético Madrid.

In addition, the Argentine coach directed Messi from 2014 to 2016 in the Albiceleste team. He reached two consecutive Copa América finals, both lost against Chile. His record with Argentina ended with twenty wins, five losses and four draws.

(With information from EFE)