Inter Miami is heading into an important midweek match against Western Conference opponent FC Dallas. With three matches remaining, the fight for a spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs is reaching its final stages, making every game crucial.
“It’s going to be a tough game, away at Dallas,” said rookie right back Dylan Nealis. “We’re preparing for a war out there. We know going into it that it’s like a playoff game. Playoffs already started for us because we realize that if we drop points, there’s not a great chance we continue the rest of the season. We’re treating it like a playoff game, like a final and we’re ready to go to war.”
“The only thing we have on our minds right now is the match against Dallas. Whatever happens with the other results in the league, I don’t care,” added manager Diego Alonso. “We are what’s most important, we are the ones who have to help ourselves and we are the ones who have to pick up points. We have to do our work and if we pick up the points we need we’ll surely be in the fight to qualify for the playoffs in the last match. That’s what it’s all about, first doing our work and not thinking about what the other results do for us.”
While the team’s focus is set squarely on the next match, their ultimate goal is to qualify for the playoffs. Still, Alonso and Nealis won’t be tempted to focus on anything outside of their control.
"Nothing else enters our minds but qualifying for the playoffs. Our energy is going toward playing well to be able to qualify,” said Alonso. “We’re simply going to work hard to qualify and to fight for our dreams."
“We can’t get too comfortable because teams could easily still jump us. We know we have three games left. I don’t think it would benefit us if we do the ‘standings watch.’ I think we just have to worry about ourselves. If we win all three, we should be in good hands,” said Nealis. “Like Diego [Alonso] has been saying for the last week, we’re treating these last games like finals. There’s a lot of focus and energy going into these last three games and I think we should prevail.”
For Nealis, the key to team success is consistency.
“I think [it will take] consistency. We’ve struggled this year with playing two good games back to back…The biggest thing for us is consistency. How can we minimize our mistakes and punish them on theirs?,” he said. “If we just take it game by game, day by day we won’t have to worry about that...I think we’re hitting a groove right now, we’re starting to connect a little more, our chemistry is building, which is only a good sign for us. We’re looking forward to these next three games.”
Tune in to watch the crucial match on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 8:30 p.m. ET. Regional fans will be able to watch the game live on MyTV33, the free Inter Miami App, and the Univision 23 App, as well as listen on Spanish radio via Univision Miami’s WQBA 1140 AM and the Uforia App. Fans worldwide can also tune in to live commentary on the Club’s App. Download and Register your Profile here: https://www.intermiamicf.com/en/club/app.
