Lionel Messi's Arrival Falls Flat with PSG Fans as Season Hits New Low
Paris Saint-Germain's miserable season took a turn for the worse on Sunday when the team suffered its second straight home defeat, losing 1-0 to Lyon. The loss was just the latest in a string of disappointing performances from the French giants, who are now just six points behind leaders Marseille and Lens.
The frustration among PSG fans boiled over before the game even kicked off, as some whistled loudly when Messi's name appeared on the big screen during the announcement of the starting lineup. The jeers were a stark contrast to the adoration that Messi received in Argentina earlier this month during friendlies against Panama and Curaçao.
Despite Messi's impressive 34 goal contributions for PSG this season, including 18 goals and 17 assists, his team remains struggling to find its footing. Coach Christophe Galtier refused to lay the blame at Messi's feet, stating that "the other players also need to do their jobs" around the Argentine superstar.
The criticism from some fans is understandable, given PSG's dismal record since joining the Champions League. The team has lost two of its three matches since being dumped out of the competition by Bayern Munich last month, and only managed to limp past relegation-threatened Brest with a 90th-minute Kylian Mbappé winner.
The recent defeat has led some experts to argue that PSG's "Champions League or bust" mentality has been detrimental to their performances. Lyon head coach Laurent Blanc said that when the No. 1 objective of the Champions League is no longer accessible, the season no longer exists - and at all levels.
As PSG faces a crucial week ahead, with matches against unbeaten Nice and relegation-threatened Lens, the team's fortunes will be closely watched by fans and pundits alike. Can Messi and his teammates turn their season around, or are they doomed to miss out on the domestic title?
Paris Saint-Germain's miserable season took a turn for the worse on Sunday when the team suffered its second straight home defeat, losing 1-0 to Lyon. The loss was just the latest in a string of disappointing performances from the French giants, who are now just six points behind leaders Marseille and Lens.
The frustration among PSG fans boiled over before the game even kicked off, as some whistled loudly when Messi's name appeared on the big screen during the announcement of the starting lineup. The jeers were a stark contrast to the adoration that Messi received in Argentina earlier this month during friendlies against Panama and Curaçao.
Despite Messi's impressive 34 goal contributions for PSG this season, including 18 goals and 17 assists, his team remains struggling to find its footing. Coach Christophe Galtier refused to lay the blame at Messi's feet, stating that "the other players also need to do their jobs" around the Argentine superstar.
The criticism from some fans is understandable, given PSG's dismal record since joining the Champions League. The team has lost two of its three matches since being dumped out of the competition by Bayern Munich last month, and only managed to limp past relegation-threatened Brest with a 90th-minute Kylian Mbappé winner.
The recent defeat has led some experts to argue that PSG's "Champions League or bust" mentality has been detrimental to their performances. Lyon head coach Laurent Blanc said that when the No. 1 objective of the Champions League is no longer accessible, the season no longer exists - and at all levels.
As PSG faces a crucial week ahead, with matches against unbeaten Nice and relegation-threatened Lens, the team's fortunes will be closely watched by fans and pundits alike. Can Messi and his teammates turn their season around, or are they doomed to miss out on the domestic title?
they're like the opposite of expectations every single game 
messi's been doin all the work but still losin games 
and yeah coach galtier's right tho, everyone needs to step up their game around messi 
not just puttin all ur hopes on one guy 
. I mean, 34 goals and 17 assists is still an amazing record for him! The problem seems to be the team around him not stepping up their game 
.
psg is supposed to be the strongest team in france but honestly theyre just disappointing me rn 
messi is an amazing player but even he cant carry the team by himself 
coach christophe galtier needs to shake things up ASAP or else ppl are gonna lose faith 
it's not all mcbappé and messi's skills, it's time for some solid squad performances too 
️ It's not the years in your life that count, it's the life in your years 
. The rest of the squad just isn't stepping up their game and that's what's causing all the problems 
.
i've been thinking of visiting paris in march and im super excited to see the stadium in person esp with messi around 
might be too busy tho lol still hope they turn their season around tho 
also, "champions league or bust" mentality just sounds like a bunch of hype to me...if you're not performing in la ligue, what's the hurry? 
. i think its fair to say that the fans are frustrated and maybe even a bit disappointed with what they've seen from the team this season 