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Speid looks at the positives ahead of Inter Miami, Cavalier clash
March 06, 2025
Cavalier FC head coach Rudolph Speid says his team will have nothing to lose when they face Lionel Missi's Inter Miami in tonight's Concacaf Champions Cup round of 16 first leg tie at the Chase Stadium, in Fort Lauderdale. Kick-off time is 8 p.m.
Speid said some football fans have labelled the match a 'David vs Goliath' clash but his players are in a positive mood going into the match.
"We have finished our preparation. We trained on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday morning. We know what we are up against. They are saying it is David versus Goliath but that is my favourite bible story," he commented.
"From last year they (players) said they wouldn't mind playing Inter Miami after Messi came to Miami. It is something in the back of their minds, something they wanted to do. And they have achieved it now.
"So there are just positives, no negatives. We have nothing to lose, only something to gain. There is a little bit of nerves but we try to normalise the players and we will try to do the best we can."
Cavalier have played in the tournament for the last two seasons and Speid pointed out that the experience they have gained playing in previous matches will be of great benefit.
However, he said they are hoping that they can get a draw and take a point to the home leg.
"We go into the match with a point. We need a positive result but we don't need to lose what we have. And if we even do, we just need to keep it close. We have options and we know what we want to do.
"This is a very experienced team. They have played Concacaf for the past two seasons. We hope we can get something positive so we can go back home and deal with it in Jamaica," he stated.
Cavalier defender Jeovanni Laing also emphasised the importance of getting a positive result in today's first leg of the tie.
"It is very important that we don't come and sit back. We have to take something home especially to force Lionel to travel to the second match so Jamaicans to see him," said Laing who said the players have to play as professionals and not be star struck.
Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said his star-studded team consisting of world renowned players such as Messi, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets will be treating the match as a final.
"With respect to tomorrow's (today) game, the best way to face a match like this is to enter at the first minute with maximum effort. There is no other way I know. No other way.
"It is a final for us, and we will try from the first minute and to be the protagonist of the match. Playing in the opponent's (half of) field, and being a team as we have been.
"The ambition to go for the game to get a good advantage that allows us to have a chance to qualify in Jamaica," he said.
