‘Leo is the greatest’ – Monterrey boss meant no offence to Messi with CONCACAF Champions Cup comments but always expected to beat Inter Miami

Monterry boss Fernando Ortiz considers Lionel Messi to be “the greatest of all time” and meant no offence with comments aimed at Inter Miami.

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• Claim of favouritism from officials
• Angry reaction from those in Florida
• Mexican side into the semi-finals

• Table of Contents

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ahead of a CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-final clash between Liga MX and MLS outfits, Ortiz claimed that his side may find themselves on the wrong end of contentious decisions from the match officials if Messi – who had been nursing a hamstring injury – figured in the tie.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Those quotes were not well received in Florida, and contributed to an angry clash in the tunnel following a fiery first leg contest in Florida. Monterrey went on to prevail 5-2 on aggregate, sending Inter Miami crashing out, and Ortiz insists that it was never his intention to ruffle the feathers of eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi.

• WHAT ORTIZ SAID

  Ortiz said after seeing his side prevail 3-1 on home soil, with Messi playing the full 90 minutes: “I said that we were going to beat them, not for a lack of respect for Miami, just because I thought that my players would understand what needed to be done. To me, Leo is the greatest player of all time, I did not mean to offend anyone, I just gave an honest opinion.”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  USMNT star Brandon Vazquez, German Berterame and Jesus Gallardo got the goals for Monterrey as they progressed to the Champions Cup semi-finals, with Ortiz adding: “As a coach, I’m happy to eliminate a great team. Gerardo (Martino) and Leo are a great coach and player who are recognised worldwide. We have the satisfaction to win the series, but we are thinking of Tigres.”