Breaking News: Head coach who squared up to Lionel Messi and delivered crude insult apologises

Coach Nico Sanchez of Monterrey has apologized for remarks he made about Lionel Messi and the head coach of Inter Miami on audio that was discovered to be leaked.

Monterrey assistant coach Nico Sánchez issued an apology after calling Lionel Messi a “dwarf” (Image: Getty)

In leaked audio, assistant coach Nico Sanchez of Monterrey apologized for referring to Inter Miami star Lionel Messi as a “dwarf” and saying the Argentine had “the face of the devil.” Last week, the Mexican Club defeated Inter Miami 2-1 in the first leg of their quarterfinal matchup with the Concacaf Champions Cup, but Messi was not on the field.

After the match, Messi, Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez, and Inter Miami head coach Tata Martino got into an altercation with match officials, escalating tensions in Miami. The MLS team had been given six yellow cards and one red card during the match. In audio that was leaked, assistant coach Sanchez of Monterrey described the affair in the locker room, stating: “The dwarf was possessed; he had the face of the devil.”

With his fist pressed against my face, he asks, “Who do you think you are?” However, the fact that I was averting my gaze and never responding to him made matters worse. I had Tata Martino standing in front of me, telling me, ‘Fool, are you going to cry?’ What a poor dummy. Are you going to cry, fool? What an idiot! They most likely deleted every one of those videos since it made them appear unprofessional. Their actions were extremely serious. They wish to contaminate the field.

The two teams are scheduled to play on Wednesday at the Estadio BBVA. Sanchez has now apologized on social media. “Since I do not know the Inter coach, Gerardo Martino, and I referred to him in a disrespectful manner, and I apologise,” Sanchez said. “I will always stand up for my club because I am just as Argentine as they are. I’m here to assert myself and be in command.

During the weekend’s 2-2 MLS draw with the Colorado Rapids, Messi made his injury comeback. With Miami behind the visitors in the second half, the World Cup winner was substituted in.

Three minutes after Messi’s goal brought his team level, they took the lead at the hour mark. But with two minutes remaining, Colorado equalized, and they were unable to hold on.

Messi is expected to play the second leg against Monterrey this week (Image: Getty)

Also, Martino has already stated that Messi will arrive in Mexico in the middle of the week. According to Martino, Messi will get the start on the field at BBVA Stadium. “[To begin] is the plan, but we recognize the importance of the impending game.

“Leo always provokes our team, his teammates, and other people in the same way. What matters most is that he felt good, loose, and at ease. We were aware that playing the first game against Monterrey would put him at risk.”