As Ligue 1 Leaders PSG Once Again Fall Short, PSG Supporters Chant “Lionel Messi”
Following the announcement of Lionel Messi’s name in the starting lineup prior to the team’s 1-0 home loss to Lyon on Sunday, disgruntled Paris Saint-Germain supporters whistled.
PSG fans jeered the Argentina captain during their previous match, a 2-0 home loss to Rennes on March 19.
Christophe Galtier, the manager of PSG, claimed he did not understand why some of the team’s supporters were jeering Messi.
After the game on Sunday, Galtier observed, “Leo Messi tried really hard. “Not everything revolves around Messi and Mbappe. Although Leo Messi gave so much, there were certain technical errors in his link-up play, which I believe make it difficult to hear the whistles. In 2023, he has scored and made assists, but his colleagues must also do more to increase the threat in the penalty area of the opposition.”
Messi, who last week reached 100 goals for Argentina at the international level, has gone four games without scoring for PSG, including the 2-0 loss at Bayern Munich that saw his team lose in the round of 16 of the Champions League.
Galtier responded when asked if he had thought about benching Messi from the starting lineup: “Leo Messi is a decisive player who is capable of producing a moment of magic that can be decisive for scoring goals during trying times when you need to turn a situation around and score goals. In 2023, he scored goals and provided assists. Never once have I considered not playing him or taking him off. He is a key component of our offensive lineup.”
There was more talk about Messi’s likely return to Barcelona heading into Sunday’s game.
Robert Lewandowski, a forward for Barcelona, has told ESPN he hopes Messi will join him at Camp Nou next year.
The Polish striker remarked on Saturday, “That would be amazing if he’s coming. “I am aware that there are numerous rumors at the moment, but ultimately we must exercise patience and we [will] learn the truth.
“I certainly hope that something happens, because Barcelona and Lionel Messi deserve there. But right now, we need to be focused on this season and what the team and I can accomplish together.
Messi is in his second season at PSG and has made 24 league appearances while contributing 13 goals and 13 assists. He has a contract with PSG till the end of the current campaign.