Inter Miami Coach Discusses Messi's Impact on Team's Morale

Inter Miami head coach Guillermo Hoyos says the devastating news surrounding Lionel Messi has cut deeply through the squad, describing a dressing room weighed down by grief as the club tries to move forward.

“Regarding Leo, we know what happened, and it is a huge shame, a source of great pain, and we have really felt that impact,” Hoyos said, as quoted by ESPN. The words hung heavy, matching the mood around the team.

“It has been very hard. Often, there are no words for it. When you go through such a difficult experience, it is hard to recover, yet it is something we all face. In a way, we never truly learn from it because the pain is so intense.”

The Argentine coach refused to put any timeline on Messi’s return, making it clear Inter Miami will not rush their captain back onto the field. The club, he stressed, will give the legendary forward all the time he needs to grieve properly.

On the pitch, though, the games do not stop. Inter Miami now has to compartmentalize and prepare for Club Leon on Wednesday in the group stage of the 2026 Leagues Cup, stepping into a crucial continental test while their biggest star works through a loss that has shaken the entire locker room.