Lionel Messi has made his expectations clear to his Inter Miami teammates, stressing that drawing matches is “unacceptable” under his leadership.
After an impressive second season with the club, during which he helped Miami claim the Supporters’ Shield by finishing atop the regular season standings, Messi’s competitive drive remains unwavering. Despite this, Miami’s playoff run ended abruptly in the first round, with a 2-1 loss to Atlanta United in a best-of-three series.
Julian Gressel, a midfielder for Inter Miami and the United States Men’s National Team, shared insights about Messi’s influence in the locker room during an appearance on the Major League Journeymen podcast.
“It’s demanding working with him,” Gressel explained. “You’re talking about the player with the most wins in the history of the game.”
According to Gressel, Messi’s legendary status comes with an expectation of excellence. “They’re coming in and expecting the same,” he said, referring to Messi and his former Barcelona teammates—Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba. “It’s unacceptable to tie a game. We tied a game earlier in the year, and I remember him being really upset in the locker room. He’s like, ‘We shouldn’t tie, we can’t tie.'”
Messi has set high standards since joining Inter Miami, and his veteran teammates share his passion for success. Despite being in the twilight of their careers, Messi, Suárez, Busquets, and Alba continue to drive the team forward with a relentless focus on winning. Gressel highlighted the strong personalities in the locker room, especially Suárez’s direct approach.
“When it comes to the game or being serious, it’s time,” Gressel added. “If you’re not doing your part, you’re getting it, like, you’re hearing it. You notice they’re not content. Messi addresses things directly but is more reserved compared to Luis, who is more emotionally expressive.”
While Miami’s stellar regular season raised expectations for a deep playoff run, Gressel acknowledged signs of vulnerability that foreshadowed their early exit. “After the loss, the guys were distraught in the locker room. You have everybody staring into nothing, sitting in silence, almost in disbelief,” he said. “I saw some warning signs towards the end of the season. We’ve given up too many chances and goals all year, and that’s something you need to fix before the playoffs to make a deep run.”
Despite their playoff disappointment, Messi’s leadership and uncompromising approach continue to shape Inter Miami’s mentality as they look ahead to the future.
