FC Dallas coach Estévez: “The team with Messi is always the favorite”

FC Dallas head coach Nicolás Estévez has spoken about taking on a Gerardo Martino side with Lionel Messi in attack.

Kieran Quailekquaile90Update: Aug 5th, 2023 08:04 EDT

HECTOR VIVASAFP

With just hours to go before their Leagues Cup Round of 16 game, FC Dallas are preparing to face an Inter Miami side brimming with confidence.

Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba have all joined the MLS club, who will be looking to book a place in the quarter-finals of the competition this weekend.

On Friday, less than 48 hours before the match, FC Dallas head coach Nicolás Estévez spoke about taking on Gerardo Martino’s team, discussing the fixture and the main threat, Messi, on DSports Radio.

“Pep Guardiola has already made it clear. The team with Lionel Messi is always the favorite,” he said.

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Lionel Messi #10 scoring in the first half during the Leagues Cup 2023 Round of 32 match between Orlando City SC and Inter Miami CF.HECTOR VIVASAFP

Messi changed everything

Estévez, 43, is aware that Sunday’s match will not be just another game and knows that the pressure of playing in a knockout stage is compounded by the profile of the opposition.

The Spanish tactician does believe in his squad and, despite the differences, added: “We will try to be the bad guys in Messi’s Major League Soccer story”.

Estévez went on to discuss what MLS is like and how it has been massively impacted by the arrival of Messi. “Messi’s arrival changed everything,” he said.

FC Dallas’ Leagues Cup run

The team from Texas did not have a great start in the Leagues Cup. In their first match, after a 2-2 draw, they lost 4-1 in their penalty shootout against Charlotte FC. Against Necaxa of Mexico, they recorded an important 3-0 win that kept them going in the competition. And, with a 2-1 win over Mazatlán, they booked their place in the Round of 16, where they will be hoping to stop Messi and Co.