Despite a 3-2 win over D.C. United that strengthened Inter Miami’s playoff position, head coach Javier Mascherano admitted that defensive lapses remain a key area to improve. The Argentine stressed the need to maintain composure when falling behind and to correct mistakes in transitions as the Herons enter the decisive stretch of the MLS season.

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  Defense a concern heading into Playoffs

  In their last four matches, Miami has conceded nine goals and owns one of the worst defenses in the Eastern Conference. Among the top seven teams that currently qualify directly for the playoffs, Mascherano’s side is at the bottom with 46 goals conceded.

  “It’s something I’m both concerned about and focused on," he stressed in his postgame comments. "We have to identify each game’s demands. Except for the PSG match, the team has generally defended well. In the Leagues Cup, apart from the final, we defended well too. These are moments. My biggest concern is when we fall behind, we lose our heads, lose our shape. In this league, we cannot afford that. 

  "That’s what we need to work on in these last six matches. Details will be the key for this team to keep progressing – it’s my responsibility to convince the players of that.”

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  Transition mistakes at fault

  Mascherano refused to blame his defenders, instead highlighting errors in transitions as the main cause of the goals conceded.

  “We conceded two goals, more because of transitions than defensive structure," he said. "They try to draw the opponent in to play long balls, and with players like Christian Benteke, who has great qualities, we wanted to disrupt that first launch. Clearly, today, some mistakes, some turnovers, cost us a lot."

  Benteke scored the first goal off a diving header to tie the match, while Jacob Murrell scored D.C.'s second goal in the dying seconds off a transition play. 

  "D.C. United may be in last place, but they hadn’t lost in four matches, and you could feel their presence," Mascherano explained. "Sometimes, facing a team with nothing to lose makes them dangerous. At times we suffered, but in the second half the subs came in well, even though we conceded again off another loss of possession.”

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  Messi by the numbers

  Lionel Messi has 30 goals and 12 assists in 37 matches this year. Already the MLS Golden Boot leader with 22 goals – one more than Sam Surridge – the Argentine has now reached 882 career goals in 1,123 appearances across club and country.

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  Citi Field next…

  The victory strengthens Inter Miami’s playoff hopes, moving them to fifth place in the Eastern Conference with 52 points and three games in hand. Messi is now the MLS top scorer with 22 goals in 21 matches. The Herons will visit the Big Apple next Wednesday to face NYCFC in MLS action.

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