Inter Miami coach downplays reported Messi-Monterrey drama - ESPN

Inter Miami CF assistant coach Javi Morales downplayed reports of an incident with Lionel Messi in the Monterrey locker room after Wednesday's Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal clash, saying «the most important thing happened on the field.»

A source told ESPN that following Miami's defeat, Lionel Messi, who sat out the game with an injury, angrily approached the Monterrey locker room and began yelling, though the exact reason for the confrontation was unclear.

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«The most important thing happened on the field, which is a Cup match, we know what those matches represent, they are played with intensity,» Morales said on Friday during a news conference. «But truthfully, the most important part happened on the field.

»We played against a great rival, and unfortunately when we went down to 10 men, we couldn't maintain the result. Now we have to go to Monterrey and try to do it in the best way possible to advance."

Inter Miami lost 2-1 to Monterrey in the first leg of their quarterfinal clash held at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Speculation arose as to whether the reported incident with Messi was sparked by declarations made by Monterrey head coach Fernando Ortiz ahead of the game.

«I hope the boys understand that it is just another game, they understand that [Messi] is just another player, because then comes all the other things, the referee, the framework, the people...everything that goes on around Messi can lead to decisions on and off the pitch that get made,» Ortiz said prior to the match.

When asked again about the situation, Morales provided only a brief response.

«We know what it's like in the world of football. There are opinions of all kinds. Everyone