The Herons will kick off the tournament this Saturday against Al Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium.
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They share Group A with Al Ahly, Palmeiras, and PortoLuis Suárez spoke to the media ahead of the matchYannick Bright and David Ruiz are likely ruled outWatch every FIFA Club World Cup game free on DAZNStream nowAFPWHAT HAPPENED?
One day before his debut in the Club World Cup with Inter Miami against Al Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium, Luis Suárez spoke to the media during training session on Friday.
"Expectations are very high because of what a Club World Cup represents, because of the teams that come to compete," said the Uruguayan on Friday, ahead of the MLS side’s debut Saturda. "But for us, it's about staying calm, enjoying it, and making the most of this beautiful opportunity we've been given. It's important for the young players to take advantage of this chance to experience a Club World Cup. A lot of people will be paying attention to what Inter does."
Inter Miami share Group A with the Egyptian team Al Ahly, Palmeiras, and Porto, which makes Saturday’s match crucial for Javier Mascherano’s team in terms of their aspirations in the tournament.
"We’re going to try to do our best with the tools we have and aim for a positive result. Obviously, we know about the restrictions MLS imposes that don’t allow us to compete at the economic level we would like, but we have to go into tomorrow's match and give it our all with the players we have," he said. 'Even if one team is more favored than another, it's still 11 against 11, and that’s where matches are truly decided."
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could be dealing with several absences for their debut in the summer tournament, and they haven’t made any new signings apart from goalkeeper William Yarbrough. Yannick Bright and David Ruiz are almost certainly ruled out for the match against Al Ahly. David Martínez was absent from the first part of training, which could open the door for youngster Tomás Avilés to start. Lionel Messi trained with his teammates without any issues. Jordi Alba, Baltasar Rodríguez, Gonzalo Luján, and Allen Obando were not on the field, so their availability for Saturday’s match remains in doubt.
Getty Images SportWHAT WILLIAM YARBROUGH SAID
Meanwhile, William Yarbrough, who will compete for the starting spot with Óscar Ustari, shared what his days as an Inter Miami player have been like ahead of the Club World Cup debut:
“Everything has been wonderful since Day 1. From the moment you land, the club staff is there making sure you have everything you need. They helped me settle in quickly, so I only had to focus on coming in, training, integrating with the team, and competing," he said.
He added, "You notice it in the facilities, the tools we have to work with – ensuring our nutrition is 100 percent, the physios taking care of our bodies, the ice baths, the excellent training fields. All those little things add up and reflect the great teamwork that starts with the groundskeepers keeping the facilities in top condition, the physios, and the equipment staff. You realize it’s like a family, and that makes it easier and more motivating for us to come to work every day.”
AFPWHAT NEXT FOR INTER MIAMI?
will open the tournament this Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium, then face Porto on June 19, and close out the group stage against Palmeiras on June 23.