We will match them - Messi's coach declares ahead of PSG clash

Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano has confirmed his team will beat European champions PSG in their Club World Cup quarterfinal.

Inter Miami surrendered a 2-0 lead to Brazilian giants Palmeiras in their final group-stage match at the FIFA Club World Cup, settling for a 2-2 draw that cost them the top spot in Group A.

The result sees Palmeiras finish first, while Inter Miami drop to second with five points, setting up a high-stakes quarterfinal against UEFA Champions League winners PSG.

Speaking after the game, Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano expressed mixed emotions over the result, acknowledging both the missed opportunity and the broader growth of his squad.

“Unfortunately, we had the game in our hands, and it slipped away. We couldn’t maintain the intensity until the final whistle against a team with real quality and depth,” Mascherano said.

“Overall, the squad showed they belong here. Before the tournament, we were practically the underdogs, but with discipline, fight and above all, football, we overcame obstacles, grew as a team, and now we’re in the quarterfinals," he added.

Looking ahead to the clash with PSG, Mascherano was clear-eyed but defiant.

He said, “This level of competition isn’t something we regularly encounter in our domestic league. We’ve shown we have no complexes. It’s been a huge learning experience, and we have rightfully earned the privilege to play the European champions. We’ll strive to match them, but at the end of the day, it’s still 11 against 11.”

The quarterfinal tie adds an extra layer of intrigue as Lionel Messi prepares to face Paris Saint-Germain, the club he represented from 2021 to 2023.

Inter Miami will face PSG on Sunday at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.