Mascherano: I'm not going to be teaching players like De Paul

Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano admitted he is "not going to be teaching" players such as Rodrigo De Paul "how to play football".

De Paul was one of Miami's standout performers as they recovered from a two-goal deficit to defeat Orlando City 4-2 last time out.

The former Atletico Madrid midfielder recorded the most touches (106), most passes in the final third (37) and won possession most often in the match (10), while also winning both of his tackles and four of his seven duels.

Lionel Messi, meanwhile, scored twice in the victory as the 2025 MLS Cup winners bounced back from their opening defeat to Los Angeles FC.

Mascherano's side lacked some of that quality in that defeat, with Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba having retired at the end of 2025, while Luis Suarez and Sergio Reguilon are both out injured.

Miami face D.C. United next in MLS, and Mascherano has full faith in his more experienced players.

"Clearly, as a coach, one tries to bring order to the team. That's what I'm here for, right? But hey, I'm not going to be teaching these kinds of players how to play football," said the Miami boss when asked about De Paul's performance.

"They have already have a track record and experience. It allowed us, in the end, to see contagious football.

"There are a lot of things, perhaps many times we get caught up in analysing football too much.

"Football has other things that perhaps at first glance are not noticeable, which are emotions.

"When you play with your heart in your hand, a good dynamic in achieved. Clearly we have good players; we are lucky to have a team with great players, and when they start to infect each other, what happened happens."

D.C. United stunned the Philadelphia Union in their season opener, but fell to a 1-0 defeat at Austin FC last time out.

Rene Weiler's side struggled in Austin, producing just 0.26 xG from seven shots to their counterpart's 1.49 from 18 attempts.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

D.C. United – Tai Baribo

Baribo scored the lone goal of the match in his home debut for D.C., a 1-0 win over Philadelphia on February 21.

The last player to score in each of his first two home league matches for D.C. was Luis Silva between July and August 2013.

Inter Miami – Lionel Messi

Messi's two goals for Miami last Sunday was the eighth time in his last 11 appearances for the club that he's contributed to at least two goals.

Over that time, including playoffs, Messi has 25 direct goal contributions (13 goals, 12 assists) in 990 minutes, averaging a goal contribution every 39.6 minutes.