Once once more, the best player in the world seven times faced boos from the Parisian fans at the “Parc des Princes” stadium, before losing to Lyon 0-1 on Sunday.
A recurring scene, similar to what happened following the exclusion once morest Real Madrid, Spain, in the final price of the European Champions League last year, when he, along with his Brazilian colleague Neymar, faced the anger of the fans.
The fans saved the world champion following the recent failure once morest Bayern Munich from the same round in the Champions League, but the messages arrived loudly once morest Lyon.
In the eyes of many fans, the “mosquito” represents the bad choice for managing the Qatari-owned team, which resorts to political-marketing options instead of sports.
There is no doubt that the inclusion of one of the best players in the history of the game enhances the image of the Parisian club in the whole world, but what he presented with Saint-Germain is very far from his epics in Barcelona, Spain, where he achieved almost all titles.
After winning the World Cup title that he had long struggled with, and in a fifth attempt that will likely be his last, Messi seems normal with the blue and red team, eager for his first title in the Champions League, compared to his runner-up in the Qatar World Cup final, the killer scorer Kylian Mbappe.
Will Messi, who will be 36 years old when his contract expires next summer, continue? Note that his annual salary of 40 million euros exhausts the accounts of Saint-Germain, which is well monitored by those in charge of the rules of fair financial play.
Salary reduction
From sources within the club, the administration may resort to a slight reduction in the salary of player number 30, which may urge him to leave.
He can choose between several destinations, returning to financially troubled Barcelona, rejoining his Portuguese rival Cristiano Ronaldo with an attractive salary in the Saudi League, or crossing the Atlantic to the North American League “MLS”, which wants to strengthen its name in Europe.
But Messi’s future is not the only question mark in Saint-Germain.
The pressure is increasing on the shoulders of coach Christophe Galtier, following leaving the mother of continental competitions.
After protecting his players for a long time, the former Nice coach revolted, “We must react quickly, and we do not believe that solutions will come naturally.”
He added, “Everyone, and I mean everyone, starting with myself, we must be aware of the reality and the work demanded of it,” because the league title is not guaranteed, despite the team’s six-point lead over Lens II, who will visit Parc des Princes following two weeks, and Marseille III, nine years ago. stages at the end of the league.
Christophe will succeed.
The coach, who was recruited by Saint-Germain at the beginning of the season, continued, “I do not criticize my players, as this group succeeded in performing well during the first half of the season. Things became very difficult in the second half.”
Galtier received the support of his counterpart, Laurent Blanc, coach of Lyon, who won the European Junior Championship with him in 1988.
“Christophe will succeed. At a certain moment, the players’ pride reaches the top. Paris is going through a delicate period, but Christophe will succeed,” Blanc confirmed.
Blanc is fully aware of the reality of the club he coached between 2013 and 2016 and sacked him following winning the league title, “I know the place almost, the club. The problem in Paris is that when he fails to achieve his first goal, it is said that his season failed, at all levels. That’s how things are.”
And he continued, “We feel that, we realize it: if the Champions League continues, things will be good, and if it ends, we talk regarding next season. It is very difficult to reactivate the players, because the atmosphere is difficult … but Christophe will succeed.”
Eba/Ghash/MM M.M
