Is the Inter Miami Job Too Big For Javier Mascherano?
It has been a season of highs, and now, Inter Miami has a few sobering lows. After a five-game MLS winning streak and giving fans genuine hope of silverware, reality came crashing down in Cincinnati. A 3–0 defeat at TQL Stadium did not just end a winning run. it exposed a team running on fumes. At the center of it all is Javier Mascherano, a passionate, rising coach whose honeymoon might end.
Post-match, Mascherano was honest. “Physically, we’re carrying a heavy load,” he said. “Eventually, that shows.” From the first whistle, Miami looked sluggish, second-best in nearly every department. They struggled to win duels, couldn’t establish any rhythm, and looked far from the team that had been blowing opponents away just a few weeks earlier.
A Demanding Calendar Is Catching Up
To be fair, Mascherano has had much on his plate. Since taking over, he’s guided the team through a relentless stretch of fixtures, the MLS regular season, the CONCACAF Champions Cup, a Club World Cup campaign, and now the looming Leagues Cup. It is a packed schedule for any squad, let alone one filled with aging legends and a few unproven youngsters.
You could see the tired legs and minds in Cincinnati. The players looked drained. There was a moment early in the second half when Miami pushed and nearly got a goal back, which felt like a turning point, but nothing came of it. “That moment could’ve shifted the momentum and given us a spark,” Mascherano admitted. “But it didn’t happen.” Instead, Cincinnati capitalized, and Miami faded further.
Even Lionel Messi, usually the solution to all problems, couldn’t save them. For the first time in six MLS matches, he didn’t score. His streak of five straight games with two goals each ended. He looked human, finally. Still, his numbers remain ridiculous, with 16 goals in 17 league appearances and scoring in all but five. When your talisman has played 90 minutes in 11 straight league games, plus four Club World Cup matches and the last four in the Champions Cup, something’s got to give.
Cracks Under the Surface
Mascherano has been praised for how quickly he seemed to steady the ship after taking charge. The vibes were great. Messi and Suárez were having fun, the team was winning, and fans were buying into the project. Recent results have started to peel back the paint. Suárez hasn’t scored in his last five games, four in MLS, one in the Club World Cup. Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba are showing their age, and suddenly, the question isn’t about how far this team can go, but whether it can stay standing.
The coach is always the first to feel the heat when things go wrong. is this job too big for Mascherano? He’s only 40. This is his first major club role after coaching Argentina’s U20s. Leading a team full of global icons, with expectations as high as this, is no small ask. Especially when your squad is thin, the legs are tired, and the media spotlight comes every week.
It is also worth noting that the team still seems heavily dependent on Messi’s brilliance. When he’s firing, Miami looks unbeatable. When he is kept quiet, as he was against Cincinnati, there is not enough creativity or urgency elsewhere to carry the load. Mascherano has spoken about sharing the burden more evenly, but that talk feels hollow on nights like this.
Final Thoughts
This loss doesn’t erase what Mascherano has achieved. Inter Miami is still in the mix across multiple competitions. The talent is there, and if Messi can stay fit, there’s always a chance. Something, however, needs to change, and fast. Whether that’s tactical tweaks, squad rotation, or simply resting some of the old legs, Mascherano has to prove he can adapt.
The next few weeks will be a considerable test of Mascherano’s credentials. Can he keep a group of stars fresh for the long haul? Can he get more from his bench? Can he get Suárez back in form? More than anything, can he lead this team without relying solely on Messi?
