Messi recalls 'massive disappointment' of PSG Champions League woes

PARIS, France -- Lionel Messi has called his start at former club Paris Saint-Germain "very tough", dubbing two successive failed Champions League bids a "massive disappointment".

"I came to Paris because I liked the club, because I had friends in the dressing room... it seemed easier for me to adapt rather than another destination I could have gone to," Messi told beIN Sports in an interview broadcast Sunday.

"In reality, it was a very tough adaptation, much harder than I expected... with a new gameplan, new teammates, a new city.

"I arrived late, I didn't have a pre-season. The start was difficult for me, my family."

Messi, 36, signed for PSG in the summer of 2021 after 17 seasons at Barcelona, but will now head Stateside to Inter Miami in the MLS after quitting the French capital.

Messi's first season, during which he scored 11 goals in 34 games for PSG, was made harder after he contracted Covid during the winter break back in Argentina, meaning he was sidelined for a month.

"It took me time to refind my physical form," he admitted, adding that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar -- which Messi won with Argentina -- also took its toll.

"It's not an excuse but the World Cup played a big role. Some came back later than others, some were injured, like Neymar.

"I think, generally, the level of Ligue 1 and the Champions League was affected by the World Cup."

Messi admitted that Champions League losses to Real Madrid in 2022 and Bayern Munich this season were a "massive disappointment".

There were even sections of PSG fans who turned on Messi, whistling at him from the stands.

"In the beginning, it was great, I received a lot of encouragement... but later on a part of the Parisian fanbase treated me differently. The majority treated me well, but there was a rupture with a part of the public," he acknowledged.

Agence France-Presse

Kylian Mbappe scores again as runaway leader PSG beats Nimes

PARIS — Kylian Mbappe scored twice to take his league-leading tally to 22 goals as Paris Saint-Germain beat Nimes 3-0 on Saturday to move 17 points clear at the top.

Mbappe has scored in all four games since PSG lost forwards Neymar and Edinson Cavani to injury, and the France star’s second-half double took him to 51 goals in the league since bursting on the scene with Monaco three years ago.

His 22 goals have come in 20 league games, and he’s the youngest player to reach 50 league goals in French league history.

“Every day I work hard to help my team as much as I can, and to enjoy myself as well,” said Mbappe, who turned 20 in December. “Football’s still about enjoying yourself, scoring goals, breaking records. That’s what drives me so I’m very happy.”

Only Barcelona star Lionel Messi has more goals in Europe’s top five leagues, after taking his tally to 25 with a hat trick Saturday.

France’s World Cup winner Mbappe scored his first goal in the 69th minute when he turned in Juan Bernat’s pass to make it 2-0. He grabbed his second in the 89th with a fine low finish after collecting Christopher Nkunku’s pass and cutting in from the left.

Nkunku had put PSG ahead late in the first half with an excellent control and finish from Marco Verratti’s pass.

The victory moves coach Thomas Tuchel’s side 17 points ahead of second-place Lille, having played one game fewer.

OTHER MATCHES

Amiens won 1-0 at home to Patrick Vieira’s Nice to edge further away from the relegation zone, into 16th place.

Striker Serhou Guirassy’s 11th-minute goal was his first for the club.

Guingamp remains bottom despite winning 1-0 at home to Angers with an injury-time effort from midfielder Lucas Deaux.

SUNDAY’S GAMES

Third-place Lyon can move within two points of Lille in the race for an automatic Champions League place if it wins at Monaco.

But Lyon will be without forward Nabil Fekir after he picked up a knock in training.

Elsewhere, fifth-place Marseille is at Rennes and sixth-place Montpellier hosts seventh-place Reims.

source: sports.inquirer.net