Lionel Messi's Paris Saint-Germain suffered another crushing defeat as the team continued its dismal season in Ligue 1. The 1-0 loss to Lyon marked a second straight home defeat for PSG, with the team struggling to find their footing.
The tension between some fans and Messi was palpable, even before the game started. When his name appeared on the big screen during the lineup announcement, he was met with whistles from a section of supporters. The sentiment would have been unthinkable just months ago, when Messi returned to PSG for friendlies in Argentina. However, since his arrival, the team has failed to live up to expectations.
Alexandre Lacazette missed a penalty chance in the first half, but it was Bradley Barcola's goal 10 minutes into the second period that sealed Lyon's win. The result leaves PSG six points behind the top of Ligue 1, with both Lens and Marseille closing in on them.
Coach Christophe Galtier refused to single Messi out for the team's struggles, instead pointing to a collective failure. "I found it [the jeering] hard to listen to," he said. "There may be expectations for Messi and Mbappe to unlock difficult situations... But around him, the other players also need to do their jobs."
The pressure is mounting on PSG as they face a season-defining week ahead. Next up are matches against an unbeaten Nice team, followed by a home game against Lens. The Champions League exit at Bayern Munich's hands has left some questioning whether the title can be won without Messi.
Former Lyon coach Laurent Blanc echoed similar sentiments, suggesting that PSG's focus on the Champions League has distracted them from the domestic season. "Paris' problem is when the No. 1 objective of the Champions League is no longer accessible, it seems that the season no longer exists – and at all levels," he stated.
With Messi struggling to inspire his team, PSG must now rely on Kylian Mbappé's consistency to see them through the remainder of the season. But even his 38 goal contributions in all competitions this term may not be enough to save his side from a disappointing campaign.
The tension between some fans and Messi was palpable, even before the game started. When his name appeared on the big screen during the lineup announcement, he was met with whistles from a section of supporters. The sentiment would have been unthinkable just months ago, when Messi returned to PSG for friendlies in Argentina. However, since his arrival, the team has failed to live up to expectations.
Alexandre Lacazette missed a penalty chance in the first half, but it was Bradley Barcola's goal 10 minutes into the second period that sealed Lyon's win. The result leaves PSG six points behind the top of Ligue 1, with both Lens and Marseille closing in on them.
Coach Christophe Galtier refused to single Messi out for the team's struggles, instead pointing to a collective failure. "I found it [the jeering] hard to listen to," he said. "There may be expectations for Messi and Mbappe to unlock difficult situations... But around him, the other players also need to do their jobs."
The pressure is mounting on PSG as they face a season-defining week ahead. Next up are matches against an unbeaten Nice team, followed by a home game against Lens. The Champions League exit at Bayern Munich's hands has left some questioning whether the title can be won without Messi.
Former Lyon coach Laurent Blanc echoed similar sentiments, suggesting that PSG's focus on the Champions League has distracted them from the domestic season. "Paris' problem is when the No. 1 objective of the Champions League is no longer accessible, it seems that the season no longer exists – and at all levels," he stated.
With Messi struggling to inspire his team, PSG must now rely on Kylian Mbappé's consistency to see them through the remainder of the season. But even his 38 goal contributions in all competitions this term may not be enough to save his side from a disappointing campaign.
. The pressure to perform is huge, especially with fans doubting him. I feel bad for the guy, he's still producing goals but somehow the team isn't clicking together 
. They need to figure out who can support him better and bring some stability to the pitch 
. Its not all on Mbappé to carry the team, they need a more solid squad foundation 
. Maybe PSG should take a hard look at their tactics and make some adjustments, like shifting from a 4-3-3 to a more compact 4-2-3-1 formation 
️.
They're literally tanking right now! 
I mean, Messi's still an amazing player but if the whole team isn't clicking he's just gonna get booed off the pitch like that... 
The pressure is def mounting on Galtier to turn this season around ASAP or else we'll be seeing PSG out of contention soon... 
And yeah, I can see how the focus on the Champions League might be distracting them from Ligue 1... it's crazy how much expectations come w/ having those superstars on your team 
. It's almost as if the team's identity has been hijacked by the absence of Messi, leaving them woefully unprepared for their domestic duties 
. The question remains: can PSG find a way to rebalance their focus on both domestic and Champions League ambitions? It's a delicate tightrope to navigate, but I'm not convinced they have the necessary depth to overcome their current struggles 
. One thing is for certain – Kylian Mbappé will need to be the catalyst for change, but even his remarkable consistency may not be enough to salvage this season 
... I don't get why fans are so hard on Messi right now 
. He's still scoring goals and creating chances, but it seems like no one is supporting him. The guy has been at the club for months and everyone was hyping him up, then suddenly it's all about his failures 
. It's not fair to boo him just because the team isn't performing well 
. Coach Galtier says they're a team problem, but it feels like Messi is getting singled out 
.
... but maybe they just got complacent? The pressure is indeed mounting and if they don't turn things around soon, it'll be a long season 
...
. Meanwhile, Mbappé, who has consistently delivered for the team, will have to shoulder even more of the burden, which could prove unsustainable in the long term 
he had such an amazing start with PSG but now it's like fans are already writing him off 
. Can't they see he's trying his best? 
. PSG needs to work together as a team and not put all the blame on one person 
. Mbappé can do so much better than that 
but noooo, gotta worry about the expectations and fans jeering him 
meanwhile, other players are just standing around doing nothing 
. I'm starting to think Messi is just using us as a warm-up act for his next big move... maybe a stint in the MLS? 
what happened to the team chemistry? alexandre lacazette's missed penalty chance is still haunting me... what would've been if barcola scored in first half instead? 
it's not just about mbappe, they need everyone to be firing on all cylinders 
and honestly, i think they should focus on the league title more than the champs league