‘There came a time when we didn’t surprise much, our moves and [ball] circulation were slower and our rivals anticipated this and neutralized it.

‘Probably the question is about assembling the team, that is, finding an even better version through the rest of the players.

Inter Miami coach Tata Martino hopes to build a system that allows Lionel Messi to succeed

Martino wants to play to Messi’s strengths ‘without trying to improve him individually’

‘We would be talking about something difficult, because a better version is not easy, but I focus more on this: what way we can surround [Messi], or find him, and try not to give our opponents so many signs of how we are going to play, for example, with Leo.’

After arriving in the summer after a full season with Paris Saint-Germain, Messi promptly helped Inter Miami win its first trophy: the Leagues Cup.

But success in MLS was harder to find as a hamstring injury limited Messi’s minutes. The club went 4-4-4 after his arrival.

In just the half-season, Messi finished with eleven goals in all competitions.

Inter Miami has been hard at work trying to get reinforcements for the upcoming season. That includes Messi’s former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez.

It’s just seven days until Inter Miami takes part in their first of seven friendly matches – six of which will be played on the road.

First, Inter Miami will play the El Salvador men’s national team on January 19 before then playing FC Dallas at the Cotton Bowl just three days later.

That leads into a massive tour of Asia, where the Herons will play two matches in Saudi Arabia against Al-Hilal on January 29 and then a mathup against Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr on February 1.

They’ll have plenty of time to find a solution with 7 preseason matches before the MLS season

From there, Inter Miami plays the Hong Kong national team on February 4 before jumping to Japan to play Vissel Kobe.

Finally, after that long road trip, they will play Messi’s boyhood club Newell’s Old Boys in Miami.

That match comes on February 15 – just six days before the MLS season opener at home against Real Salt Lake.