MIAMI -- Javier Mascherano says he knew from the moment he agreed to become Inter Miami coach last winter what he was getting into.
"When I took this job, the first thing I knew was the responsibility of the position because of the amount of exposure surrounding this club," Mascherano told the Miami Herald on Friday, as his team prepared to travel to Seattle for the Leagues Cup final against the Sounders on Sunday night.
"You are leading a team that includes Messi, knowing that not only in my country [Argentina] but in the whole world everyone will be aware of what he does and doesn't do. And then, not only Leo, but other notable players on a relatively new ambitious club that is trying to grow and make U.S. soccer history."
Mascherano, 41, said his experience playing for high-profile teams like Liverpool, FC Barcelona and the Argentine national team prepared him to handle the glare of the spotlight and outside noise from fans and media, which he had to endure when the team hit a rough patch in April and May.
A global TV audience and an expected crowd of 65,000 at Lumen Field will have eyes on Messi's team Sunday night as Inter Miami aims to win its second Leagues Cup title in three years.
It won't be easy.
Like Miami, the Sounders have had a memorable summer, holding their own in the Club World Cup against Paris Saint-Germain, Atlético and Botafogo and following that up with just one loss in the past 14 matches (10-1-3). They have outscored their Leagues Cup opponents 13-2 in five games.
Seattle, which joined MLS in 2009, has a lot more history and trophies than Inter Miami. The Sounders have four U.S. Open Cup titles, two MLS Cups, a Supporters' Shield and a Concacaf Champions Cup title. Miami has one Leagues Cup and one Supporters' Shield in its six-year existence.
"Seattle is a great team with a fantastic coach [Brian Schmetzer] who has been in the league for a long time and has made them a perennial winner," Mascherano said. "It is a club with a lot more history than us, and they are in good form."
Miami is in a good stretch, as well, with just two losses in the past 14 games. Mascherano's men rebounded from a forgettable spring slump during which the team had one win, two ties and five losses in eight games. Inter Miami was outscored 10-2 in three of those losses, and some critics called for Mascherano to lose his job.
He blocked it out and remained undeterred.
"On another club, you lose three or four games and there isn't much noise," Mascherano said. "On this club, there always will be noise because of the exposure and expectations. I had the privilege of playing for great coaches, I always had a lot of dialogue with them, and one of them who taught me a lot of lessons once told me that the worst thing you can do as a coach is to change how you coach to try to keep your job.
"I always try to be the same person based on my convictions and ideas and understand things can go well, or they can go badly. And if they go poorly, all of us coaches know that one day they welcome you and one day they dismiss you. That's how it is, and if you are clear on that, you will be much freer to make decisions."
Through the highs and the lows, Mascherano is charged with finding a way to blend Messi and other high-priced stars Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and, more recently, Rodrigo De Paul, with young players such as Noah Allen, Yannick Bright, Benja Cremaschi, Ian Fray, Telasco Segovia and Baltasar Rodriguez.
"We have a diverse roster of players with a lot of experience, some at the end of their careers, young players from other countries highly motivated to develop, and young players from our academy who are starting to prove themselves," Mascherano said.
He said he uses common sense and honesty to manage the locker room.
"I believe a coach, first and foremost, must be honest with his players," Mascherano said. "You cannot lie or mislead them. I cannot come to Inter Miami and say that all the players are equal, because they're not. I must be very clear to each player what his role and responsibility is within the group."
The players have responded and are highly motivated to win on Sunday. Both finalists earn berths in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup, and the winner gets a bye into the Round of 16.
The Sounders are known for their physicality and will pose a challenge for a Miami team that prides itself on skill and possession.
"It will be a very difficult game, but no team is perfect, so we have to try to exploit whatever weaknesses Seattle may have," Mascherano said. "We will have to stay focused and have a near-perfect game to win. If we play the way we have the past two Leagues Cup games, and improving a few things, we should have a good chance."
Inter Miami rallied to beat Orlando City 3-1 in the Wednesday's semifinal match. Messi equalized from the penalty spot in the 77th minute and scored the go-ahead goal in the 88th minute. Telasco Segovia added an insurance goal in added time.
In the quarterfinals, Miami beat Mexican club Tigres 2-1 despite the absence of Messi, who was injured.
"We're going to have to limit their star players to half-chances if that's possible," said Schmetzer. "We'll have to keep some possession because we don't want to chase the ball for 90 minutes. We'll have to create some chances against them."
Schmetzer, 63, is a Seattle native and played for the Sounders in the early 1980s when the club was part of the NASL. Sunday's game has deep personal meaning for him.
"My perspective on being a local kid, having seen a lot of big events at the stadium -- championships, finals -- we're hosting the greatest player [of all time]," Schmetzer said. "Miami is coming to Seattle in a meaningful championship game. That followed playing against Paris Saint-Germain, which is arguably the greatest club team in the world.
"It's been a great summer. I'm hoping to make it an even better summer on Sunday."
Not if Mascherano and Messi can help it.
How to Watch Inter Miami vs. Seattle Sounders Leagues Cup Final
The match will be broadcast at 8 p.m. on Apple TV MLS Season Pass, and also in Spanish on Univision and TUDN.
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