“I am very happy to win my first title, the club’s first title in just a month. The team is growing fast and we are very happy,” he said.
“We have infected the team with our spirit, our work, our character and our experience. We’re building a solid team… and then we have Leo, who makes a difference because he’s the best in the world.”
Nashville began with a clear intent to limit the impact of Busquets and Messi from expansion, and they were effective in forcing Miami to play a slower type of possession football, deeper in their own half.
Gary Smith sent out an early warning that they could trouble Miami on a set-piece with Walker Zimmerman’s header from a Lucas McNaughton corner, forcing Callender to make a short save.
Miami was probing, with Messi dropping deep and looking for gaps in the home defense.