Inter Miami lost 2-0 away to Red Bull New York, ending the team's three-game winning streak. Lionel Messi was named among the substitutes and came on early in the second half, with Kily Gonzalez saying the decision was a precaution after Messi travelled to Oviedo, Spain, on Thursday to receive the Princess of Asturias award for Sports.
Why Messi was on the bench
Gonzalez said: "This was something that had already been agreed upon."
Gonzalez said: "Obviously, he's been through quite a journey, time zone changes, temperature shifts, and a whole host of other factors."
Gonzalez said: "We were fully aware of all of this, and we reached an agreement that this was the best approach to ensure he didn't suffer any issues, specifically to avoid any injuries considering we have another match this Wednesday. The goal was for him to recover and get some minutes under his belt today; as always, he performed well."
Match and numbers
It was the first time in 13 consecutive matches for club and country that Messi failed to register a goal contribution. Inter Miami are third in the Eastern Conference standings with 55 points.
Manager's assessment
The manager said: "We had far too many turnovers in midfield, played too many passes while facing our own goal, and struggled to build play from deep."
The manager said: "I have to take responsibility for this."
The manager said: "As I told the lads at halftime, we needed to turn things around; we improved a little, though I'm certainly not satisfied and neither are the players. But it's a useful lesson, a reminder that you can't afford to get complacent, a hit to the face. We can't relax."
Next fixture
Inter Miami will next host FC Cincinnati on Thursday.