Mauricio Pochettino claims that Lionel Messi was treated unfairly by PSG during his first season at the club and backed him back in 2022/23.
Lionel Messi came to a two-year deal last summer after finishing his career at Barcelona, but things have not been so easy in the French capital.
The 34-year-old has scored just nine times in all competitions – only four of his 23 goals in Ligue 1 – and was among the number of players praised by fans following PSG’s exit from the Champions League final at Real’s hands. Madrid.
That feeling was once again in the spotlight as the PSG ultras opted out of their majority after a 1-1 draw with Lens last Saturday, rather than celebrating the club by winning their eighth Ligue 1 title in 10 years.
Pochettino has no doubt that things are going well and says Messi has been treated unfairly – saying it is only natural that he needs time to adjust to his new position despite being at the same level as Diego Maradona.
“Judging Messi in this way is not fair,” notes Pochettino.
“You can’t talk like that about Messi, it’s like when I talk about Maradona. I’m not talking about a normal player. Messi is at the same level as Diego Maradona.
“I have no doubt about his level. Messi has enough talent to do what he has to do. He will do it. Next season it will be completely different for him. great that can affect the player.
“It is clear that the move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain was a change where the need for flexibility was needed.
Messi’s small return to Ligue 1 is his worst scoring season since 2005/06, when he was at Barcelona’s youth team, despite having 13 assistants in PSG’s bid.
