Inter Miami’s Messi fails in MLS Playoffs.

This impressive achievement comes not only from the talent of the players but also thanks to meticulous tactics and thorough research from José Daniel Alfonso, a Spanish analyst with an extraordinary career.

The world journey of the man who “untangled” Messi

Born in Cartagena, Spain, Alfonso began his career as a member of the coaching staff of his hometown club. His passion for tactics led him to build an international career, working in Ukraine, Sweden, Ghana, and Denmark before landing at Atlanta United.

Alfonso has been involved in notable projects such as helping Dnipro reach the Europa League final, accompanying the Ghana team at the 2022 World Cup, and developing young players at Nordsjaelland Club (Denmark) – the birthplace of talents like Mohammed Kudus.

In 2022, he joined Atlanta United – a team that is rising strongly in MLS. Here, Alfonso not only brings in-depth tactical analysis but also applies modern teaching methods to improve the player’s learning ability.

To defeat a team that boasts superstars like Messi, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Luis Suárez, Atlanta United couldn’t rely on luck alone. Instead, they developed a detailed plan to deal with their opponents’ changing style of play.

In 2022, Mr. Alfonso (right) joined Atlanta United – a team that is rising strongly in MLS.

Alfonso said: “Inter Miami are dangerous because they have many stars who work so well together. For example, Messi and Jordi Alba have moves that they almost don’t need to look at each other to understand. But the familiarity in these situations also means that they can be predicted. We focused on exploiting the weaknesses in the spaces they left.”

Atlanta United’s success is not just about tactics, but also about their ability to maintain intensity and focus throughout the 90 minutes. Players are trained to pick up on cues on the pitch and react quickly to familiar opponent movements.

“Facing Messi requires absolute organization and a steely spirit. If you let your guard down for even a second, you will pay the price,” said Mr. Alfonso.

Comparing MLS to European leagues, Alfonso highlights the differences in soccer culture. In the United States, with salary caps and player categories like “franchise players,” teams often have large differences in quality within their squads. This leads to emotional games where tactics sometimes give way to improvisation.

“Here, from the 60th minute onwards, the match often turns into a chase. From the perspective of a European coach, that is difficult to control, but at the same time it also brings its own appeal,” Mr. Alfonso stated his opinion.

In addition, the development of MLS – with the presence of top players like Messi – has brought the tournament closer to major European leagues in both quality and influence.

Aspiration to return to the top of Europe

Despite his success at Atlanta United, Alfonso does not hide his ambition to return to Europe in the future: “I want to return to the highest level in Europe, not only for personal reasons but also to challenge myself in the most competitive environments.”

He is now focused on helping Atlanta United advance further in MLS, with the goal of not only winning titles but also elevating American soccer through advanced analysis and coaching methods.

Atlanta United created an earthquake in MLS when they became the rare team to defeat Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami three times in one season.

Alfonso asserts that tactics are important, but protecting the health and spirit of the players is also something he values. Despite facing stars like Messi, his team always maintains a spirit of respect for their opponents: “We don’t play dirty to win. The important thing is to protect the players, to ensure they play in a fair environment.”

Atlanta United’s success against Inter Miami was more than just a scoreline victory, it was a testament to the power of preparation, determination and sportsmanship. Alfonso and his team showed that nothing is impossible in football – even when your opponent is Lionel Messi.