Javier Mascherano has claimed that Inter Miami 'need to give' Lionel Messi a 'break' amid their tight schedule.

"Our initial plan was to give him some rest tonight," Mascherano admitted during the post-match press conference. "But once New England scored, we felt the pressure and decided to keep him on. In the next few matches, we need to find the right moment to let him rest."

Ahead of their clash with New England Revolution, Inter Miami 's coach also said: "Even with the best squad in the world, if you give Leo a rest, his absence is noticeable. But this year we've played several games without him, and everyone has stepped up to compensate for his absence.