Clement Diop preparing to start Inter Miami season opener in case his number is called
The experienced goalkeeper could be given the nod on Feb. 26 if Nick Marsman is not fully recovered from a knee injury suffered late in 2021
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — If Clement Diop’s number is called in the season opener later this month, Inter Miami will be turning to a goalkeeper who has yet to play a meaningful game for the team.
That scenario might just play out, too. After all, Nick Marsman has yet to feature in a preseason friendly.
Inter Miami’s campaign opener vs. the Chicago Fire on Feb. 26 is fast approaching, and Diop stands a decent chance to start for the South Florida side in that affair given how preseason is unfolding. While last year’s starter, Marsman, continues to work his way back from a knee injury suffered late in the 2021 season, Diop has played in each of the Herons’ three preseason exhibitions to this point and started two.
No timetable has been provided publicly by Inter Miami with regards to Marsman’s return, but Diop is preparing himself in case it is he, and not the Dutchman, who gets the nod against the Fire.
“For me it does not matter who is injured or not,” said Diop on Tuesday. “I am trying to get myself ready. If the coach needs me, he needs me. If the coach needs Drake (Callender), he needs Drake. If he needs Nick, he needs Nick.
“The coach will take the decision. I am working hard every day and getting myself ready for whenever he needs me.”
What bodes well for both Inter Miami and the 28-year-old Diop should he be the No. 1 on Matchday 1 is that he has some familiarity with the way head coach Phil Neville works. As was reported first in this space last fall, Diop joined Inter Miami in training in September after departing CF Montreal due to “personal reasons.” He wound up sticking around in South Florida through the season’s conclusion, and signed a deal last month.
Of course, a lot of Inter Miami’s roster has changed since Diop first joined the Herons for practice sessions and as such he has had to work on developing chemistry with his new teammates during these last few weeks. Still, not everything or everyone is alien to the Frenchman.
“There are great facilities, there is a great coaching staff,” said Diop. “I think we have a strong team and we work hard for each other. It is very different from last year, even though I was not playing (in games) but I was here.”
The next opportunity Diop will have to fine-tune his understanding with the back line and team in general in an exhibition will come on Friday when Inter Miami takes on CF Montreal in a closed-doors friendly. Diop said Tuesday he is not really putting much thought into facing off against his former team, though he noted he knows a lot about the Canadian side.
Instead, he is simply focusing right now on continuing to get ready for the season opener and the starting chance that may soon come with it.
“Last year I had to stop my contract with Montreal for personal reasons and I had to come back in the U.S.,” said Diop. “… I came here, I trained, now I signed here and I am working hard for the team and I am getting myself ready for whenever the coach calls me.”