On Tuesday, June 9, Inter Miami received approval from MLS to begin full team training at Inter Miami CF Training Center. The training moratorium began almost three months ago amidst the COVID-19 pandemic; since then, the team has gone through the appropriate phases of training, beginning with voluntary individual workouts and followed by voluntary small group training sessions.
Our players have been itching to return to action, a sentiment expressed when they shared their excitement at being able to pass the ball to each other in small group sessions last week. Now, the return of full team sessions offers them the opportunity to do more than just pass from a distance.
“I was really eager to start training with the group," said Nico Figal. "I felt really good to start training with the team. I'm enjoying being back with the boys.”
“We know that the Orlando tournament is coming and it really makes us happy because it brings us to another state of mind where the desire to compete returns.”
It wasn’t just the team unity that excited the Argentine center back, either, as he also shared his joy at getting the opportunity to push some of his teammates again and ignite the team’s competitive drive.
“The team's mentality is to go and compete as always, go to each field and play our game,” he added. “We know that we have a team that will give people something to talk about and every player in this squad really wants Inter Miami to make history by winning the tournament.”
Figal also shared an encouraging message to Inter Miami fans who are excited to see their team in action again.
“I want to tell fans to have hope because this is a team that is going to leave it all on the field. We have big dreams like them, so never stop dreaming.”
Lewis Morgan, meanwhile, was happy to be on the other end of Figal and the rest of the defense. The Scottish winger enjoyed the opportunity to beat defenders on the field after a week of just passing to them.
“It was good [to attack the defenders]. It’s that competitiveness getting back,” said Morgan. “It’s all good and well running and keeping ourselves fit during this period of time, but we’re a squad of competitive guys and everyone wants to be competing against each other and making each other better. Being back in full team training now is going to make all that possible.”
“Obviously it’s been a long time coming and all the guys are so excited to be back in full team training. It’s just good to be back and doing what we all love.”
“From day one everything has been modeled around winning and creating a successful team and that’s something we’re working hard every day to do. The demands are always high in the training sessions and the boys demand a lot of each other as well. Obviously with the tournament coming up, it’s something we want to be really successful in and it’s just about creating that winning mentality and making sure winning comes first. All the boys are embracing that.”
