Another international break may be upon us, but Major League Soccer is storming ahead.

After an electric draw against Orlando City SC on Wednesday, the Philadelphia Union will come home back home on Saturday to take on Inter Miami CF. With a bounce-back win in mind, we reached out to our pals Ian Hest with The Heron Outlet to hear the latest on the (so far) Lionel Messi-less club from down south.

Philadelphia Soccer Now: I don’t want to ask a Messi question, but I feel I have to. So here’s one that ~ isn’t ~ about Messi. Since the announcement, what’s been the atmosphere around the club, from the front office, to the fans, to the locker room?

Ian Hest: How crazy can you possibly imagine? Yea…probably a little more than that. The announcement was one of the most, if not the most, surreal I’ve ever seen. The only thing remotely relatable could be The Decision with Lebron.

Preparations are already in place for July 21st, when he’s expected to make his debut. From players in & out, to ticket sales, to stadium upgrades, it feels like something big keeps happening every single day. And each day people get more and more excited. 

PSN: On a more negative note, Miami’s currently in last place in the East. What’s up there?
IH: Where to begin…it’d be much shorter to answer what’s gone right because that wouldn’t take much time.

Injuries (their 3 current designated players have combined played less than 37% of minutes this season), losing close game after close game (9 of Miami’s 12 losses have been by 1 goal, and they have 0 ties), and a lack of offense especially on the road (they’re 1-0-7 away from DRV PNK and have the 4th fewest goals scored in MLS), are the leading causes. They simply have been overrun by a combination of bad luck, timing, and distractions that have led to poor results.

PSN: Interestingly enough, Miami defeated Philly back in the beginning of the season. Has anything changed since then?IH: You mean that game was this season?! Feels like a lifetime ago! A ton has changed…obviously the aforementioned Argentinian is coming shortly, head coach Phil Neville was relieved of his duties in the beginning of June, and the team hasn’t played in two weeks after a tremendously condensed schedule in May which saw them play 8 games in less than 4 weeks.

The team really needed that break. Everyone was exhausted both on and off the pitch. Several players, including Josef Martinez and Leo Campana, left for international duty during it and I think coming back together, with all that has happened in June, will see them rally together and be rejuvenated for a second-half run.

PSN: Will the Flamingos be missing anyone on Saturday? What are your lineup and score predictions?
IH: The Herons*. And yes, they’ll be missing a lot. Injuries have plagued this team this season. Team captain Gregore is out until mid-September, his midfield partner Jean Mota is out until October, attacker Coco Jean tore his ACL against the Revs in the last match and is out for the year, Dixon Arroyo, who was an emergency acquisition because of injuries, has his knocks, and DP Rodolfo Pizarro has seen just 1 half of MLS action in the last two months.

Inter Miami will also be without DeAndre Yedlin and Kamal Miller because of the Gold Cup, however, there’s a chance Miller plays against Philly and just leaves from there as Canada doesn’t have their first match until Tuesday.

Also, starting CB Sergey Kryvstov has had some visa issues returning from the Euro Qualifiers playing for Ukraine. His status is uncertain. His backup, Ryan Sailor, is also out due to injury.

Oh, and I failed to mention backup GK Nick Marsman, who has been conspicuously absent lately, is home resting now, according to Dutch media, after recently being hospitalized after being bitten by a venomous spider at the zoo! Like I said…this team can’t catch a break!

(4-2-2-2): Callender; Negri, McVey, Miller, Neville; Ruiz, Fray; Stefanelli, Cremaschi; Josef, Campana

Union 2-1