Guillermo Hoyos insisted "Inter Miami has to go out and play to win on every field" as he prepares for his first game in charge of the Herons.

Javier Mascherano resigned from his role as head coach on Tuesday for personal reasons, with Hoyos taking over while Miami search for a permanent replacement.

Mascherano won 27 of his 47 games in MLS (D11 L9) while guiding the Herons to MLS Cup glory in 2025.

Miami scored 101 goals under Mascherano last season, the most in a single MLS campaign, a tally that also includes a record 20 in the play-offs. 

Hoyos was previously serving as sporting director, though he has coaching experience with teams in Argentina, Mexico and Chile, and also worked as Bolivia's head coach.

Miami are third in the Eastern Conference after seven games, but they have drawn their last two matches (2-2 versus Austin FC and New York Red Bulls).

When asked how he would approach the new role, Hoyos said: "With great excitement and many dreams.

"I've always been involved in football – as a player and now as a coach. So this is truly an opportunity. I'm a believer, and this is a great blessing for me and my family.

"I'm very thankful to the people who have trusted me with this responsibility, and I'll do my best – both personally and professionally – to succeed.

"This is a winning team. It's a team that consistently wins, led by the greatest player in history, who demands that level, and the team reflect that.

"Inter Miami has to go out and play to win on every field."

Hoyos faces a difficult start to his interim tenure, with the Colorado Rapids sixth in the West ahead of the Herons' trip to Empower Field.

Colorado thrashed the Houston Dynamo 6-2 last time out in the league, while they also defeated Union Omaha 1-0 in the U.S. Open Cup during the week.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Colorado Rapids – Rafael Navarro

Kosi Thompson and Navarro each netted braces in Colorado’s 6-2 win over the Dynamo.

They are the second pair of Rapids team-mates to score multiple goals in a regular-season match, after Chris Henderson and Mark Chung did so against the New England Revolution in May 2002.

Navarro leads Colorado for both goals (five) and assists (three) in MLS this term.

Inter Miami – Lionel Messi

Messi failed to record a direct goal contribution in Miami’s 2-2 draw with the Red Bulls last time out.

Miami have now failed to win the last 16 times Messi has appeared but not directly contributed to a goal in all competitions (D7 L9), last winning such a game in April 2025, at the Columbus Crew.

MATCH PREDICTION – INTER MIAMI WIN

The only previous meeting between Colorado and Miami was a 2-2 draw in Florida in April 2024.

Messi scored in the 57th minute to tie the match at 1-1 before Miami went ahead three minutes later. The Rapids equalised in the 88th minute through Cole Bassett.

Miami have drawn five of their last six matches in all competitions (W1), conceding twice in each of their last two. Miami had failed to win only four of their previous 17 games in all competitions (W13 D1 L3) dating back to last September.

Colorado are unbeaten in eight straight regular-season home matches (W6 D2), including opening this season with three straight home wins.

The Rapids have only opened a season with a longer home winning streak twice: six straight victories in both 1999 (including a breakaway shoot-out win) and 2016.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Colorado Rapids – 25.6%

Draw – 23.3%

Inter Miami – 51.1%