Inter Miami CF know they can’t repeat last weekend’s performance from their loss to the Chicago Fire if they want to beat D.C. United on Saturday, and they’re hoping Rodolfo Pizarro will have a difference-making performance to help them secure the three points.
Miami (2-3-2, eight points) is coming off a 1-0 loss to the Fire on May 22 in which the South Floridians struggled to create quality scoring opportunities and were shut out for the third time in the last five matches.
“At this football club, we have to demand the absolute highest standards every single week,” Inter Miami coach Phil Neville said ahead of Saturday’s match vs. D.C. United. “The inconsistencies at the moment is something we’re not happy with. We’re not at the level required for where this football club wants to go. We all have to take responsibility for that.”
Neville said he’s expecting “big things” from Pizarro, who’s available for the match versus D.C. United (2-5-0, six points) after missing the loss to the Fire due to a hip flexor injury.
“Obviously a lot of people talk about Rodolfo and there’s lots of speculation about Rodolfo, but as I keep telling everybody and I tell Rodolfo especially is that we love him in this football club,” Neville added. “He’s a big player and a big part of this football club.
“Now, it’s about providing a platform for him to go out on Saturday against D.C. and give his absolute best, but actually start enjoying his football and playing with a little more freedom and be that level of player that we know he can be. He’s under no illusions about the levels he wants to be and should be. We need to make sure we support him in getting to those levels we need him to be at.”
Pizarro has struggled during the early parts of the season — recording zero goals and one assist across six games — and has seen his role with the team shift with Federico Higuaín having a more prominent stature on the team over the last few weeks.
Additionally, Pizarro was left off Mexico’s men’s national team squad for their CONCACAF Nations League squad in June.
Nonetheless, Neville’s been impressed by Pizarro’s mindset despite his uneven play.
“In terms of his work ethic and sacrifice for the team, he’s been as good as anyone in the team. He’s just not probably got his rewards in the areas that he wants to contribute more than anything. We spoke at length about him being a big impact player for the team with goals and assists and key passes.
“I suppose that is the area that we now need to see more from Rodolfo. Attitude-wise I am really pleased with him. Now, I want him to get the rewards for the hard work he’s putting in, the sacrifice he is doing for the team and for his teammates. Saturday will be that platform, and hopefully he can produce a performance.”
Saturday’s match is expected to be the largest home-crowd Inter Miami have played in front of since joining MLS last year, with the club opening the 18,000-capacity DRV PNK Stadium to full capacity for the first time.
“The fans have been amazing. Last year when they started being allowed in and the start of this year they have been amazing,” Lewis Morgan said. “They never let the club down, so it’s time for us players to start getting wins here at home and repaying their support.”
Injury/availability update
Leandro Gonzalez Pirez will be suspended for Saturday’s match due to yellow-card accumulation after receiving his fifth yellow card of the season in the loss to Chicago.
Neville said Robbie Robinson will probably be sidelined through the upcoming two-break from play due to FIFA’s international window, which starts on May 31., after Robinson aggravated a hamstring injury he’s been dealing with for the past few weeks.
Eighteen-year-old center back Ian Fray, who tore his ACL during the preseason, did some light jogging on Inter Miami’s training fields during a recent portion of practice that was open to the media.
“He’s integrating with the first team,” Neville said. “We’re trying to give him a little bit of excitement, something to keep spurring him on. That injury is one of the most devastating ones because it keeps you out of the job that he wanted to do. He had had a great pre-preseason where I had such high hopes for him and seeing him out on the grass the last couple of days has been really exciting.”
But Neville didn’t provide a timeframe of Fray’s recovery.
“He’s a young player that needs to recover fully and if he recovers fully back to his athletic best, he’s got a big future at this football club,” Neville added. “I think everybody knows that and he knows what I think of him. We’re taking things really steady with him, but integrating him back into the atmosphere and the togetherness of the training grounds is really important.”
