After taking a 2-0 lead thanks to a brilliant performance from Luis Suárez, Inter Miami ended up drawing 2-2 with Palmeiras at Hard Rock Stadium. The result was enough to send them through to the round of 16 – but it also means their next opponent will be Paris Saint-Germain. Either way, the Fort Lauderdale-based side once again showed they can compete at a high level in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, something Jordi Alba highlighted in the mixed zone.

Inter Miami vs PSG in headline clash

Speaking to DAZN, the veteran left-back said: “We were better than all three of our opponents [in Group A], in my opinion. Except for the first half of the first match and maybe the last 15-20 minutes today. We exceeded the expectations people had of us and, overall, we competed well. It’s a shame – we would’ve loved to finish top.”

“It’s a pity. You can’t let a game like this slip away when you’re up 2-0, and that’s on us,” he added. “But we would’ve taken this result at the start of the tournament […] At the end of the day, we’re here to compete and win games. It’s a shame considering how hard the team worked. In those last 20 minutes they pushed us hard, we were also tired, and in two isolated crosses the game slipped away. But we should be proud of the work we put in.”

Jordi Alba pays tribute to Luis Enrique

The Spanish defender didn’t hold back when asked about Luis Enrique: “For the club, this kind of achievement is wonderful, and now we’ve got to compete against a PSG side that will be very tough […] Let’s see if we can hold our own. We’ve competed in all three matches. Now, obviously, we’re talking about the champions of Europe. We know a lot of their players, and the coach – who I was lucky enough to play under – and I’ve always said he’s the best in the world.”

He also sent a clear message of intent: “Once the game starts, it’s about going toe-to-toe, trying to beat them, and why not? This is football – let’s see how far we can go.” Despite the daunting challenge that awaits, one of Inter Miami’s key leaders is already making it clear they’ll go for it against les Parisiens.