As was the case for Zlatan Ibrahivomovic, Ligue 1 knew Lionel Messi before his arrival at Paris-Saint-Germain. But not really the Messi who frequents his lawns since September between two trips to Argentina for the needs of his selection. One goal and five assists in ten games, before the trip to Lorient this Wednesday, December 22, for the 19e day of the French championship: the cat is thin for a fresh seven-fold Golden Ball.
This is not new, PSG pampers its stars. In Messi’s case, the word ‘patience’ loops around like an apology. ” It’s also a question of time, and he will score a lot of goals here ”, at the beginning of December his trainer, Mauricio Pochettino, promised at a press conference. Goals that came in the Champions League four days later against Bruges (4-1) with a brace in a game without a stake.
With five goals scored (all at home) in the competition, would the Argentine be more motivated when he treads the lawn of the Parc des Princes on the measures of Handel which inspired the anthem of the C1? Edouard Cissé sweeps this theory aside, not really convinced to see a gala Messi in Europe. “We make statistics say what we want, launches the former PSG player and current consultant for Amazon Prime Video. In the league, he shot five times on the uprights. Proof that it still has the technical correctness. “
In Lens on December 4, Messi touched a post again, before, the following week, offering an assist to Kylian Mbappé against Monaco. Two flashes to overcome the boredom of any two performances again, like those of his team, whose domination in Ligue 1, with thirteen points ahead of the second, Marseille, is a perfect mistake. eye.
Messi is still looking for himself on the pitch, and PSG are looking for FC Barcelona’s Messi. Not sure that the Parisian supporters will find it in the end. “He’s a lot less explosive, and it’s not been for four months, remarks Edouard Cissé. Messi, who scores crazy goals on forty-meter breakthroughs, has not been seen in Barcelona for the past two or three seasons. Today, he’s playing more like an old-fashioned ten, and he needs some animation around him to get into a scoring position. “
Electron too free in the field?
Unexpected market opportunity, its arrival was not thought – as often – by Parisian leaders as part of a collective equilibrium. It is original sin according to some. “They did not realize that when you take Messi you have to have the players around who go in his tempo, who allow him to make less defensive efforts … He sets a false rhythm to the team, which does not correspond not to the players around him “, criticized Jérôme Rothen, formerly of the Parisian house, on the antenna of RMC, even evoking “A recruitment error”.
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