Javier Mascherano, former Barcelona player and Argentine soccer icon, was presented as the new coach of Inter Miami on Tuesday. The decision to appoint him sparked controversy due to his limited experience as a head coach, but the Argentine has shown confidence in taking on the challenge.
The club’s owner, Jorge Mas, revealed that Lionel Messi had an influence on Mascherano’s choice. The two share a long history of success with Barcelona and the Argentinian national team. Although he has never coached a club, Mascherano has accumulated experience coaching Argentina’s youth teams over the last three years. “I’m convinced that I’m capable of doing a good job. I have no doubts”, he said through a translator.
The appointment comes after Gerardo “Tata” Martino stepped down following the team’s shock exit from the MLS Cup playoffs. Mascherano now faces the task of leading a squad full of stars such as Messi, Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets. In addition, Inter Miami will have a unique opportunity to compete in the revamped Club World Cup, raising expectations of his performance even higher.
With a successful career as a player, including two Champions League titles and five LaLiga titles, Mascherano highlighted his 20-year background in soccer as an asset in facing the pressure. “Even though I’ve been coaching youngsters, the pressure has always been there. Now I hope to prove my worth on the pitch”, he concluded.