Javier Mascherano Speaks Out On Inter Miami's Concacaf Champions Cup Elimination: 'Can't Blame'

Ruining the celebration of Lionel Messi's 900th goal, Inter Miami was eliminated from the Concacaf Champions Cup after drawing 1-1 with Nashville SC on Wednesday in the second leg of the Round of 16. Head coach Javier Mascherano had already faced the media.

"Unfortunately, we conceded a goal from an unlucky play. There were a lot of things happening. And in the end, we were eliminated," he said, via Inter Miami News Hub. "The truth is, I have nothing to reproach the players for. They gave everything; the one responsible for this elimination is me."

"We had the hope of being able to advance in the competition, in what was a very, very even tie. Today we took the lead and had some chances to score another goal or two, especially in the first half. But the match was clearly still in danger because it was very evenly contested against a strong opponent."

Miami, which had this tournament as its primary objective of the season, was eliminated on away goals after the first leg ended in a 0-0 draw in Nashville.

On Wednesday, Inter took the lead in the seventh minute with a goal from Messi, the 900th of his career, but the party in Fort Lauderdale came crashing down with the equalizer from Argentine Christian Espinoza in the 74th minute.

Inter's early exit from the CCC, a competition from which it was eliminated by Monterrey last year, was also a sad farewell for Chase Stadium.

This venue has been Inter's home since its entry into MLS in 2020 until the move in early April to a new stadium in Miami, christened Nu Stadium.

Under persistent rain, the night could not have started better for the Herons, who in just seven minutes saw their great captain open the scoring with his historic 900th goal.

Messi received an assist in the area from Spanish fullback Sergio Reguilón and adjusted the ball before unleashing a crossed left-footed shot.

Coach Javier Mascherano had rested his star in the last MLS matchday to keep him fresh for this crucial duel.

Having lifted their first MLS title in 2025, Inter's great and undisguised objective this year was to be crowned Concacaf champions, a goal they pursued with an enormous investment in signings such as Reguilón himself and Mexican-Argentine Germán Berterame, as well as the permanent transfer of Argentine Rodrigo De Paul.

But Miami failed to increase its lead, and the party was definitively dampened when a powerful volley from Espinoza sent a loose ball inside the Miami area into the net.

Mascherano turned to Uruguayan Luis Suárez in the final minutes for a desperate assault, but Nashville's defense held firm to seal passage to the quarterfinals, where it will face either the Philadelphia Union or Mexico's Club América.