Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni defends the integrity of the MLS.
Lionel Messi has taken Major League Soccer by storm, scoring nine goals in his last six games, leading Inter Miami to the Leagues Cup final in the process.
The speed of his acclimation, especially with his advanced age, has led to many questioning the quality of the MLS.
Messi's Argentina manager, Lionel Scaloni, has taken to the defence of the competition, rubbishing claims that the league is of substandard quality.
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What Scaloni said
Scaloni disagrees that the quality of MLS is bad, claiming he attended an Inter Miami match against Charlotte FC and found the quality acceptable.
It should also be noted that the Albiceleste boss has not shied away from selecting players from the MLS for the national team, as Atlanta United's Thiago Almada was part of the Argentine contingent that won the World Cup in Qatar.
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“I don’t think the level (in MLS) is bad,” Scaloni said, per The Athletic.
“On the contrary, I was at Inter Miami’s game versus Charlotte (FC) and I didn’t think it was bad. In fact the level was acceptable. Every football match is difficult. You have to play them.
“There’s no doubt that (MLS) is a league that’s trending up. It’s improving and it’s attracting footballers to come and play here. It’s a country that’s also attractive. But I can see the challenges that MLS presents and I’ve seen good teams here.
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“I know that this league is going to continue to improve. There are some very good players here and even better players will make their way here.”
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