As Inter Miami prepare for Game 3 of their first-round, best-of-three MLS Cup Playoff series against Nashville SC, echoes of last season’s disappointment inevitably linger. However, manager Javier Mascherano has made it clear that his team must look forward, not back.

Miami’s playoff story a year ago still stings. In 2024, with Lionel Messi leading a star-studded lineup, the club entered the postseason as Supporters’ Shield winners and appeared destined for a deep run. They claimed victory in Game 1 but stumbled in the next two, falling at home to ninth-seeded Atlanta United and exiting the competition in shocking fashion.

This time around, the situation feels familiar. Miami, now the third seed, once again face elimination after splitting the first two games of the series against sixth-seeded Nashville — a win at home followed by a loss on the road. The decisive third match on November 8 will determine whether the team can finally move past the ghosts of last season.

After the Game 2 defeat, Mascherano spoke with conviction about channeling frustration into motivation.

“We have to take the pain from this result and turn it into energy for the next match,” he told reporters. “Now is the moment to stay united, to believe in one another, and to use that emotion when we return home in front of our fans.”

Mascherano emphasized composure and focus, urging his players to stay mentally strong during the buildup to the final match of the series. With home advantage and experience on their side, Inter Miami will hope that this year’s story ends differently — one that replaces last season’s heartbreak with a statement of resilience.