PARIS — The relationship between Lionel Messi and PSG followers isn’t getting higher. It’s really turning bitter.
Less than per week after he scored a hat-trick and surpassed 100 profession targets for Argentina, the world champion was whistled by sections of supporters earlier than and through PSG’s 1-0 residence loss to Lyon on Sunday amid persistent rumors he might go away the membership quickly.
The former Barcelona star, who’s out of contract on the finish of the season, didn’t look higher than the remainder of his teammates on the Parc des Princes. He was concerned in a couple of good strikes, but in addition misplaced the ball 26 occasions because the French league leaders suffered a second straight defeat with out scoring.
PSG has misplaced eight of its 18 video games in all competitions in 2023. It’s essentially the most defeats after 18 video games in a calendar yr since Qatari homeowners took over the membership greater than a decade in the past with the ambition of constructing it one of the crucial profitable in Europe.
Despite the lots of of thousands and thousands of euros invested, the venture has failed up to now. PSG remains to be desperately searching for the Champions League trophy it craves after exiting Europe’s high match towards Bayern Munich within the spherical of 16. And now it’s at risk of dropping its home supremacy.
The loss to Lyon adopted a 2-0 defeat towards Rennes earlier than the worldwide break. The back-to-back setbacks have seen PSG’s lead over Lens and Marseille reduce to 6 factors, with 9 matches left to play.
“This is our eighth defeat in 2023, it’s way too many,” stated PSG coach Christophe Galtier.
Messi, who joined PSG in August 2021, has been embodying the group’s shortcomings regardless of fairly good statistics. After struggling to adapt to the French league – the seven-time Golden Ball participant scored solely six league targets in his first 26 video games – Messi has improved this season as he developed an environment friendly understanding with star ahead Kylian Mbappe.
In 24 league matches, the 35-year-old Messi has scored 13 targets and delivered as many assists.
But his output has left PSG followers unimpressed and Sunday’s jeers on the Parc des Princes weren’t the primary to hit Messi.
Messi’s title had already been booed by sections of followers forward of the loss to Rennes final month after some supporters took intention at him following PSG’s elimination to Real Madrid final season.
Galtier stated Messi shouldn’t be handled this manner or made a scapegoat.
“Leo Messi tried very hard,” he stated on Sunday. “There were some technical mistakes in his linkup play, but I think the whistles are hard to listen to because Leo Messi gives so much. It is also down to his teammates in terms of doing more to create more danger in the opposition penalty box.”
In that context of falling out of affection, mixed with PSG’s poor outcomes, the opportunity of seeing Messi go away is rising by the day. Even extra since Barcelona vice-president Rafael Yuste stated final week the membership is in touch with its former golden baby.
“Leo and his family know the affection I have for them,” Yuste was quoted as saying. “Messi knows how much we appreciate him. I would love for him to come back.”
Messi arrived at Barcelona at age 13 and left having gained 35 titles. He helped the membership win the Champions League 4 occasions, the Spanish league 10 occasions, the Copa del Rey seven occasions and the Spanish Super Cup eight occasions. Messi can also be the group’s all-time scorer with 672 targets in 778 appearances, and the highest scorer within the Spanish league with 474 targets in 520 matches.
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