Martino fury after Messi-less Miami thrashed by Red Bulls

NEW YORK, MAR 24: Inter Miami coach Gerardo Martino slammed his star-studded teams mentality on Saturday after a brutal 4-0 thrashing by New York Red Bulls.

Miami, missing the injured Lionel Messi, were torn apart at New Yorks Red Bull Arena as former Inter player Lewis Morgan scored a superb hat-trick.

While Martino accepted his share of the blame for the mauling, the veteran coach pointed the finger at his players, who included high-profile signings Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
"There is not much to say, except that we were outmatched from start to finish," Martino said following the drubbing. "Red Bulls had the desire to win and we had no desire to compete.

"When a team enters a game without the desire to win, without spirit, without competing, and the other side just want to win the game, they are going to win it." Martino meanwhile refused to blame the absence of Messi for the loss, noting that the team had produced a 3-1 victory at D.C. United last week without the Argentina superstar.

"The absence of the best player in the world is important for everyone -- but last week with D.C. Leo didn play either," Martino said.

Earlier, former Miami player Morgan had run Martinos side ragged with a brilliant man-of-the-match performance.

Scotland international Morgan, who arrived in Major League Soccer four years ago after stints with Celtic, St. Mirren and Sunderland, fired New York into the lead after just three minutes.

A lacklustre Miami, meanwhile, barely created a chance in the opening 45 minutes, with a curling Suarez shot that flew wide after 27 minutes their most threatening opportunity.

Morgan then doubled New Yorks lead six minutes into the second half, pouncing on a clever assist by Dante Vanzeir to make it 2-0.    —AFP