A rival coach has broken his silence on the reported heated altercation with Inter Miami's Lionel Messi after their Concacaf Champions Cup.
Messi was expected to feature against Monterrey this week but was left out and watched from the stands.
ESPN have reported that Messi confronted the Monterrey coach and started shouting, although it is not clear why.
Read: Reason Why Messi's Man City Move Failed 'Revealed'
"The most important thing happened on the field, which is a Cup match, we know what those matches represent, they are played with intensity," Morales said on Friday during a news conference.
"But truthfully, the most important part happened on the field.
"We played against a great rival, and unfortunately when we went down to 10 men, we couldn't maintain the result. Now we have to go to Monterrey and try to do it in the best way possible to advance."
"I hope the boys understand that it is just another game, they understand that [Messi] is just another player, because then comes all the other things, the referee, the framework, the people...everything that goes on around Messi can lead to decisions on and off the pitch that get made.
When asked directly about the reported spat, Ortiz added, "We know what it's like in the world of football. There are opinions of all kinds. Everyone is responsible for what they say."
The Argentine forward has kicked a ball since Miami's clash against Nashville SC in the CONCACAF Champions Cup on 13 March 2024.
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments
