In a recent press conference, Inter Miami CF assistant coach Javi Morales addressed reports of an incident involving Lionel Messi in the Monterrey locker room following Wednesday's Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal clash. Morales downplayed the incident, stressing that "the most important thing happened on the field."

According to a source, Messi, who missed the game due to an injury, allegedly approached the Monterrey locker room in an angry state and began shouting. The exact reason for the confrontation remains unclear. However, Morales emphasized that the focus should be on the game itself, stating, "The most important thing happened on the field, which is a Cup match. We played against a great rival, and unfortunately, we couldn't maintain the result when we went down to 10 men."

Inter Miami lost 2-1 to Monterrey in the first leg of their quarterfinal clash held at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Speculations arose regarding whether the reported incident with Messi was a response to declarations made by Monterrey head coach Fernando Ortiz before the game.

When asked about the situation again, Morales provided a brief response acknowledging that opinions in the football world vary. He stated, "We know what it's like in the world of football. Everyone is responsible for what they say."

However, Inter Miami confirmed on Friday that Messi would be returning to the roster for Saturday's MLS clash against the Colorado Rapids. The club posted an image of Messi along with the words "he's back," indicating his availability. It remains to be seen what role Messi will play in the game, but Morales expressed that he was showing improvement day by day.

Morales stated, "He's getting better every day, like Tata Martino said. He's been participating in training sessions, so he's getting better." Messi has been dealing with a right hamstring issue for nearly a month but joined the rest of the squad in training on Tuesday.

Despite the upcoming second leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal against Monterrey, Morales affirmed that the match against the Colorado Rapids takes priority. The coaching staff will closely monitor Messi's training and make a decision based on his fitness.

"We're going to see how he feels at training. If he feels good, I'm sure Tata will want to count on him [on Saturday], whether it's 10 minutes, 15 minutes, or 45. We want to have him," Morales explained.

Inter Miami currently holds the second spot in the Eastern Conference table with 11 points in seven games and a record of 3 wins, 2 losses, and 2 draws. The team will also take a cautious approach with managing the playing time of Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Luis Suárez due to the recent number of games played. Morales emphasized that the decisions regarding player minutes will be made based on constant communication and consideration of their physical well-being.