What did Messi and Mascherano say about the World Cup clubs and confront the Egyptian Al -Ahly?

Veteran Argentine star Lionel Messi expressed his enthusiasm for “this wonderful opportunity” represented by his team Inter Miami at the Football Club World Cup in her new expanded look opened by the world champion and his companions on Saturday against Al -Ahly on their soil.
Despite his victory in all possible titles, if he was with his former team Barcelona, ​​Paris Saint -Germain, and his country, with whom he won the most important thing in the march of any player, that is, the World Cup in 2022 in Qatar, Messi did not lose anything from his thirst for more.
Hours prior to the beginning of his career and team Inter Miami against Al -Ahly in the first round of the first group of the new formula of the World Cup clubs with the participation of 32 teams, Messi told the International Football Association website, “It is an interesting competition. It is exciting to get the opportunity to be part of it.”
“My expectations differ from those that I had when I was playing with other teams, but I am excited and I look forward to the competition against the best teams and provide good performance,” the 37 -year -old continued.
After defending the colors of Barcelona from an early age, reaching the first team from 2004 to 2021 on his way to win the Spanish League title 10 times and the Champions League 4 times and the Club World Cup 3 times from many other titles, Messi left the Catalan giant and joined Saint -Germain before he was in the American League in 2023 to lead Inter Miami to be the best team in the regular season in 2024 with 74 record points, what He allowed him to be in the World Cup clubs.
Messi expected that the World Cup club will attract the American fans in the tournament that will last until July 13, adding, “I think there is huge teams coming from all over the world, and this attracts many people everywhere. We are talking about great teams, which includes very important players that people like to watch.”
“It is a great opportunity to see the best players playing here in the United States,” he said, considering that facing the best teams from Europe and South America is a great opportunity … a really great experience for players on the field and fans in the stands. “
The position of Inter Miami coach, his compatriot Javier Mascherano, was not different from the winner of the Golden Ball for the best player in the world eight times, as he said, “We will definitely run the most important championship in the history of our club (which was established in 2018) and this is an honor for us and a great opportunity to test our capabilities and know our level.” Responsibility.
On the confrontation of Al -Ahly in the first test in the group that includes Portuguese Porto and Brazilian Miras, Mascherano said, “It is one of the largest teams in Africa, and he recently contracted with five or six players for the World Cup, and this is what we could not do … It is a strong physical team, and it includes distinguished players, especially in the midfield and attack.”
“But our plan … to try to prevent their best players from playing a leadership role in this match, and to surpass the opponent if we want to get an opportunity to achieve a good result.”