Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has failed to love up to the excitement of the attacking trio – Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.
Pundits say that while there is a lot of brilliance exhibited by the trio, they are yet to bring the wow factor at Parc des Princes. Much to the disappointment of the Ligue 1 club fans who expected fireworks with Mbappe, Messi and Neymar combination.
One of those whose focus has been on is Mbappe otherwise christened MNM. PSG’s clash with Manchester City in the Champions League poked holes in their pairing at Parc des Princes. Although PSG won 2-0, the chemistry many are looking for in the trio is not forthcoming.
Or, it could be a case of too much expectation from these legends who have the French capital wrapped in their talents. Be as it may, the spark on the pitch between them is halfway there.
Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar. Photo/ESPN
How Does Messi Feel Playing With Mbappe And Neymar?
Following PSG’s game against Marseille last Sunday – ended in a 0-0 draw – he broke the ice on ‘sluggish performance”.
Messi says that while there are a lot of expectations by fans, such only happens progressively.
The Argentine international offers that, “It is something that will come naturally, as long as we continue to play games together.”
“We are still getting to know each other little by little. I have known ‘Ney’ for a long time, as well as [Angel] Di Maria. But I have only played alongside Mbappe in a small number of games and training sessions. As more time goes by, we will become better as a squad.”
How Many Goals Has Messi Scored For PSG?
Heartbreaks started with the first three Ligue 1 matches. Messi did not score any goal but it is understandable that he was trying to fit in. Nonetheless, he scored a ‘miraculous goal’ for PSG during a Champions League match against Manchester City.
Messi scored his first goal after battling an injury he sustained from international duty soon after joining the French club.
Why Is Neymar Under Intense Criticism?
With a few past matches, Neymar has turned out to be a sour taste for PSG fans. And this has come with a fair share of criticism that soared after Sunday’s Le Classique clash.
So bad was it that manager Mauricio Pochettino replaced the Brazilian forward in the 83rd minute. Georginio Wijnaldum played the rest of the game just to calm the waters.
In fact, the criticism saw him labelled a ‘ghost’ – a label further propelled by his falling numbers for the season so far. However, Pochettino insisted that Neymar’s game against Marseille was points-on.
“I’m happy with the game he played,” Pochettino said. “He put in a great effort for the team.”
Lionel Messi Full Potential Yet To Be Felt By PSG
Without a doubt, Messi’s effect is yet to be felt at Parc des Princes. Coupled with an almost flat performance when paired with the other attacking duo – Mbappe and Neymar – critics are speaking in hushed tones.
Unfortunately, all this bile is going to Pochettino for some unexplained reason. Football pundits say that Messi, unsuccessful start at PSG is due to ball tactic on the pitch.
All he is getting in the pitch is a lot of space with no options from his teammates. This explains his false start. But, he hasn’t brought his A-game yet having played countable matches. In PSG’s game against City, Messi was fresh from an injury recovery but still made a great show.
Will Kylian Mbappe’s move to Real Madrid make sense?
What’s Mbappe’s Case With PSG?
In the last four Ligue 1 appearances, Mbappe failed to net a goal. But, he has four goals to his name soon in the opening matches of the season.
Earlier, Mbappe admitted to calling Neymar ‘bum’ during a match with Montpellier in September. He downplayed claims of bad blood between them nevertheless.
In an exclusive interview with L’Equipe, Mbappe admitted to uttering those words.
Mbappe is quoted saying “This bum, he never passes to me!”
Mbappe said that after the incident, he spoke to Neymar and squared out their differences. “Right after, given how it blew up, I spoke to him about it.”
While commenting on this, Pochettino said it is common in the football world and it shouldn’t be taken seriously.
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