Incredible moment former Liverpool star Javier Mascherano issues tactical instructions on the PHONE from the stands after being sent off
Inter Miami boss Javier Mascherano was spotted barking orders at his assistant manager over the phone after being sent off during their clash with Tigres.
With Lionel Messi watching on from the stands with an injury, Miami took on the Mexican side in the quarter-final of the Leagues Cup on Wednesday.
And the David Beckham-owned club got off to an ideal start, with star striker Luis Suarez putting them in front from the penalty spot with 23 minutes on the clock.
The remainder of the first half was a somewhat cagey and subdued affair – until Mascherano was left incensed by referee Mario Escobar on the stroke of half time.
As his side tried to hold on to their lead heading into the break, the referee played on past the four minutes of added time earlier indicated by the fourth official, prompting an angered reaction from the former Liverpool midfielder.
The outburst gave Escobar little choice but to issue Mascherano with a red card, meaning the 41-year-old would have to watch the second half of the tie from the stands.
Inter Miami boss Javier Mascherano was seen barking orders at his assistant manager over the phone after being sent off during his side’s tie against Tigres
The Argentine had been sent off for an outburst at the referee late in the first half
That didn’t stop Mascherano from ensuring his instructions reached the Miami players nevertheless as, with 57 minutes gone, the manager was seen frantically talking tactics over the phone with his assistant Lucas Rodrigues Pagano.
And it seems the peculiar method of management paid off as the Herons ultimately progressed to the semi-final of the Leagues Cup after Suarez fired home the winner, another penalty, in the dying embers of the game following an Angel Correa equaliser.
Suarez’s pal and team-mate Messi was spotted celebrating the winner from a pitch-side box with his son and the Uruguayan’s boy Benjamin.
Inter Miami assistant Javier Morales discussed Mascherano’s red card post-match, explaining the reasoning behind the boss’s outburst.
‘The referee added four minutes and we ended up playing six minutes, so we argued about the time,’ he said.
‘We’re human, we start to talk and the referee said Javier got a red card and that’s it. We didn’t have much information.
‘We complained about the time, he said four minutes and then they’re playing six.’
Mascherano’s assistant Lucas Rodrigues Pagano was relaying Mascherano’s instructions to the players from the sideline
Miami ultimately sealed their place in the semi-finals of the Leagues Cup thanks to two penalties from Luis Suarez
Miami will now face their Florida rivals Orlando City in the semi-final of the competition next week.
Orlando, who sit one place above the Herons in the MLS league table, have beaten Mascherano’s side twice already this season.
Miami travel to Washington this weekend to face D.C. United as they continue their bid for a play-off place come the end of the season.
David Beckham and co will no-doubt be hoping for the return of their Argentinian maestro for the fixture.
