Neville: “We’ve got to remain balanced”
Inter Miami CF lost a fiercely contested match against Chicago Fire FC on Saturday night at SeatGeek Stadium. The Herons scored through Gonzalo Higuaín’s deftly taken penalty kick in the 77th minute of the match; the Argentine’s goal is his tenth of the season, which leads the squad’s 2022 MLS regular season tally.
Head coach Phil Neville was on hand after the match to meet with media members, and expressed his support of the players. Neville emphasized the team’s desire to succeed as a driving force for the young squad.
“I always have a good feeling about this group because they are so together. I know how desperately they want to be successful, how they want to do well. At times that weighs heavily on you. Before the game, the team talk was about composure, discipline, showing your quality, and enjoying the challenge ahead of us. You can look at the league table and you can either be fearful or enjoy it, and we’ve got to be able to enjoy this challenge. We’ve got a young team that has to learn very quickly, and we’ve got to be better very quickly.”
Neville’s experience as both a player and a manager will play a vital role in the upcoming weeks, and he conveyed a message of perseverance to the squad tonight.
“We’ve got to remain balanced,” Neville said. “We’ve got to think about the next five games. We know there are loads of points to play for. We know it’s the team that recovers emotionally, physically and mentally from these setbacks that is going to be successful. It’s the team that keeps their nerve. It’s the hard parts that make it so exciting, so when you do succeed, it makes it special.”
Looking toward the upcoming match against Columbus, Neville noted that the electric home crowds at DRV PNK Stadium will buoy the team in a crucial match.
“It’s an incredibly exciting game on Tuesday [against Columbus]. We’re going to need every ounce of energy and support from the fans behind us. That should inspire us and allow us to play without fear.”
Inter Miami CF captain Gregore also looked ahead to the next MLS fixture, stating the importance of playing at home in front of la Familia in the last stages of the playoff push.
“I think we’re getting close to winning. Next we have a match at home where we’re very strong. Now we rest, train, and go with everything that we have because we have to win at home. The most important thing is to concentrate on ourselves.”
Inter Miami CF returns home for its next match, hosting the Columbus Crew at DRV PNK Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 13. The match kicks off at 8 p.m. ET as the Herons continue their end-of-season push for a playoff position. Tickets for the match are available HERE.
