NASHVILLE, Tenn. – MLS Commissioner Don Garber says it is the responsibility of each club, not the league, to capitalize on Lionel Messi’s presence in the competition.
Speaking to ESPN’s Luis Miguel Echegaray ahead of Saturday’s Leagues Cup final between Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC, Garber talked about a number of topics, including how to build on the inaugural edition of the tournament.
But when asked how, for example, the New York Red Bulls should maximize Messi’s presence when Inter Miami arrives at the Red Bull Arena in August. On October 26, Garber said: “Local clubs Locals are responsible for building their fan base.The league won’t tell them what to do when someone else comes to town.
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“I know what I would do if I were the coach or the general manager. If I were the president of a club, and I heard Jim Curtin say this in Philadelphia, [I’d say]: ‘Come here and support your team.’
“Yes, it would be nice to see someone else wear that pink jersey and it could be a special moment, but it’s a chance for the Philadelphia Union on its way to winning another title.
“The league won’t mandate those. It really depends on our teams.”
Miami won the Leagues Cup for the first time, beating Nashville on penalties 10-9 as normal time ended 1-1. Garber was full of praise for the attention the tournament had attracted and the excitement that was generated.
“So far, in Year One, a great success,” he said, referring to the Leagues Cup. “You think about the fact that no other league anywhere in the world pits two professional football leagues, bridging borders together in a competition to determine who’s really king. school road here.
“There have been some unbelievable matches. There has been extreme excitement and it’s only Year One, so imagine what our future holds.”
As with any new tournament, there are bound to be tweaks and changes. Garber said the Leagues Cup will be no different.
“We have to check the calendar,” he said. “We have to continue to see where the competition fits in with a lot of other things going on over the next few years. Sure, we’ll be working with Concacaf on a lot of other operational things and whether that’s the behavior. main or anything else, by the way, I think that’s much better than what I think the officials are noted.
“Ultimately, here’s all the things we’re going to do in the off-season and sit down with my partner, [ Liga MX president] Mikel Arriola, and think what the future holds for us.”
Garber also said that MLS will continue to be more than just a player, even a transcendent player like Messi.
“It’s about the foundation,” he said. “It’s at the core of what we do with our community. It’s not just a great moment to meet a special player.
“We’ve had a lot of great players in our league history. It’s not just about that one player. It’s about: How do you feel about your club and that player. can bring you something that could make it a little more special?”
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