LAFSC defender Giorgio Chiellini, after a 3-1 loss at home for the Southern California club, said that Lionel Messi's Inter Miami is the best team he has faced in Major League Soccer (MLS) and expressed support for Miami as a potential playoff contender.
Chiellini said, "To be honest, this [Miami] team is the best I've faced in MLS so far."
With Messi's leadership and support, Miami put on a strong performance against the LAFSC team, which couldn't take advantage of opportunities on their noisy home field at the BMW Stadium, filled with a star-studded audience, including LeBron James, Leonardo DiCaprio, Capiro, Prince Harry, Selena Gomez, Will Ferrell, Jason Sudeikis, and members of Rage Against the Machine.
After the loss, when asked about Messi's impact in MLS during the post-game press conference with LAFSC head coach Steve Cherundolo, he had this to say:
"He is the best player in the world; what did you expect when he came here?" Cherundolo stated clearly.
On Sunday, with two assists, Messi contributed to Miami's undefeated record in all 11 games played alongside his 11 goals and five assists. Thanks to his form, Miami remains unbeaten in those 11 matches and has improved its current club record since Messi's arrival in July.
Miami, which was last in the Eastern Conference of MLS before, will need to finish at least ninth out of the nine games remaining to be eligible for playoff discussions. However, Chiellini hopes to see them in the post-season.
"I think they will make the playoffs," the former Champions League finalist said. Chiellini also praised Messi for what he has done with both Miami and the league as a whole.
He said, "Lio's arrival is great for this league, not just for Miami and for the game but for the attention he brings to MLS. It's a big step for the league."
Messi reiterated his goal of making it to the playoffs with Miami.
"We are now trying to aim for the top eight to compete for the league title," he said. "That's the goal. We are progressing. Winning gives you confidence, of course."
Messi said, "Before the game, we said that this [game] was a beautiful test to see where we stand and what we are capable of. We were playing on a tough pitch, against a very good opponent, the current champions. This is a good result before what's coming."
"The team is improving every day, and we've said that from the start. We were lucky to win the cup, to reach the final."
Messi also stated that he has no plans to ease off in future games.
He said, "Physically, I feel good. I'll keep playing, assisting, and doing whatever I can to help the team. Hopefully, we can continue this trend."