MLS defenses have been unable to contain Inter Miami’s deadly duo this season.

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez have combined for 31 goals and 21 assists already.

Messi and Suarez could not break down New York’s defense

But New York City FC shut out the superstars to earn a valuable 1-1 draw on Saturday, September 21.

English head coach Nick Cushing was behind the masterplan to contain Miami’s free-scoring attack.

And he revealed how taking the game to Messi and Suarez proved fruitful in the Big Apple in an exclusive chat with talkSPORT.

“It’s incredibly difficult when you play a team of their level,” he said on Drive.

“They’re running away with the MLS currently, and for us it was about reducing the spaces and the amount of time that they get to impact the game.

“We’re a high pressing team and we like to press really hard.

“We like to try and turn our the defensive side of our game into our attack.

“We reduced Messi one touch in the box, Suarez three shots in the game – we defended the game really well, which gave us the opportunity to get something out of it.”

Leonardo Campana scored for Miami after 75 minutes, but James Sands scored a dramatic late equalizer for New York.

The point left the franchise seventh in the Eastern Conference – three points off fourth and 23 behind leaders Miami.

Cushing decided to defend from the front

Messi has been in scary form this seasonAFP

Cushing said it was the job of the whole team to stop Messi and Suarez from taking over the game.

“They’re top, top players,” he added.

“But for us, it’s about I think it’s a team game.

“Messi in particular. I’m sure every coach has tried to do something individually on him.

“And he is somebody that can play outplay that.

“So for us, it was about defending as a team to make sure that we control the game defensively, whether we’re low or whether we’re high.

“We like to be aggressive and on the front foot, that really worked for us in this game.”

Messi has a bodyguard to keep him safetwitter:@wearemessi

Messi’s profile has led to several security incidents – opening the door for an unlikely hero to take center stage.

Cushing was asked if the Argentine World Cup winner really had a security guard running down the touchline with him.

Yeah, he does,” Cushing confirmed. “The bodyguard’s become as famous as him.”