Full Reason Why Inter Miami rival coach apologises for calling Lionel Messi ‘possessed dwarf’

Inter Miami’s Argentine forward Lionel Messi was on the receiving end of some barbed insults via the Monterrey coaching staff (Image: Getty)

Before and after their Concacaf Champions Cup matchup with Inter Miami, the Monterrey coaching staff’s scathing remarks proved to be divisive.

After criticizing Lionel Messi in a harsh outburst that allegedly included calling the Argentine hero a “dwarf” with the “face of the devil,” Monterrey coach Nico Sanchez has apologized.

Last week, the Mexican powerhouses defeated Inter Miami 2-1 in their Concacaf Champions Cup first-leg match, despite the game being clouded by the contentious verbal sparring that had preceded the match. Fernando Ortiz, the manager of Rayados, also seemed to accuse the referees prioritizing the legendary forward Messi in the match before it began.

But perhaps the most notable outburst came from assistant coach Sanchez, who leaked a rant about a fictitious altercation with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and his teammates. Before it was leaked, an audio clip taken in the Monterrey locker room was sent to the former’s friends, according to USA Today.

After a heated match, Sanchez purportedly claimed that Messi was joined in the tunnel by teammates Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez, and Miami head coach Tata Martino. They seemed to have a problem with the officiating during a fiercely contested match, as the Herons received six bookings and one red card during the match.

The recording, which Fox Sports MX played, purportedly captured Sanchez recounting the events in the mixed zone after the game: “Messi wanted to fight me.” He would have hit me, so I don’t think he wanted to. I was a centimeter away from him. He pressed his fist up against my face. More than just hitting me, I believe he was waiting for my response.”

He made the contentious remark, “The dwarf was possessed, he had the face of the devil,” which caused a lot of people to become upset. With his fist pressed against my face, he asked, ‘Who do you think you are?’ However, the fact that I was averting my gaze and never responding to him made matters worse.

And poor Tata Martino, I had him standing in front of me, telling me, ‘Fool, are you going to cry?’ What a 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.”

Fernando Ortiz, head coach of Monterrey, set the tone as his assistant also issued a barbed remark about Lionel Messi

“Since I do not know the Inter coach, Gerardo Martino, and I referred to him in a disrespectful manner, and I apologise,” Sanchez said in a video that was shared on social media. Like all of them, I’m from Argentina, and I’ll always stand up for my team. I’m here to assert myself and be in command.”

In any case, it was evident that the Monterrey coaching staff was not shy about fanning the flames of a developing rivalry before their Champions Cup matchup. Additionally, manager Ortiz made an indirect jab at Messi, his countryman, regarding his alleged influence over referees before the game.

“Everything surrounding Messi can lead to sporting and non-sporting decisions,” the World Cup winner said prior to the match, which the player ultimately missed because of an injury. “I don’t know if it would hurt us, obviously, but as everyone knows, sports are a business, and it’s not about us.

Even so, Ortiz acknowledged his defeat, saying, “We will do whatever it takes to win on the field. I’m unable to handle other things after that. Sportingly, I respect Leo,” he remarked. “I continue to observe and to be impressed. Though I want my team to win, I want to play against him.”